TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 847, 4 December 1905, Page 3

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Tlie monthly mejtiug cf the South Canterbuiy District Educ-iEioSal Institute was 'held ihJWagstaff's rooms on Saturday morning, Mr R. -Stewart presiding over a meetting of fourteen teachers^ Some correspondence relating to the British "League of Empire," an "educational organisation, was read, and a few: gmall accounts were passed for payment. ;'An application for membership'- was approved," and the secretary, Mr Valentine, said that was the 122 nd member, and that with only two or three exceptions, all the teachers in the district were now members of the Institute.

The principal business of the meeting "was to discuss the "remits," or notices of motion, to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute, to be held at Jnvercargill on January 3rd and following days. Most of the 36 items were passed with the remark "leave the delegates a free hand." Four of the remits were*sent by this district Institute. A little discussion took place on the Wanganui proposal " that the inspectorate be centralised." this meaning that the Department should have full control over the inspectors, and shift them as it pleased. Certain districts always support, and certain other* always oppose, this motion. Three motions propose to abolish the pu- ■ pil teacher system, substituting a niatricu- j lation or junior civil service pass and a ' course in"a'training college, and this idea' was supported. ' : A motion from! Auckland that.tiie Minister for lyducat ion should a'dopt as 'abso-'; lively necessary reform's (a) a scheme tori colonial promotion';' (b) payment on a. fixed ! basis. On the tii st pTopoSal Mr Johnson j remarked that it ""was ' impracticable with-; out centralisation of appointments. They: could not even have a.'district Scheme v\ l promotions. Xoith Canterbury had ttied j one, but it would not work. The presi- j dent said a'scheme of promotions would mt i work so long as appointments were in the I 'iiamlis of two bodies. '•■ Four other remits propose reform <>f tiie ; method of jKiymg teachers by average at-i tendance. Wanganui proposes grading the, teachers,, by length of sen-ice, teach in-.; • ability: and lileraiy attainments. Hav.-kXs liiiy" proposes grading-the schools. The; meeting endorsed the idea of «ettinj :M j of the average attendance basis in <-"ine ■ way. | Otaifo sends a motion "that the Minister; be again urged to centialNe sc::<m>ls in i'i.«<>. . try district*!." The motion was approved. ] witli a lemark that Mr Tl;iiglisli won!.: in-; able to j»ive the Institute si one g"->.i :i maik.< in the subject.

Among the remits- f<;*xvan.'ed by .South Canterbury is one—" Th.r; Uio ''nv.ynineiu should provide free the text" bn.iks rtfjujrcd |by pupils." This vs passed, hut with a comment that if it were adojiteci by tlie Government, they might have to wait a long time for supplies, and a hopo. that ;the cost of books would not como out <>t teachers* salaries. Hawkes' Bay prop.*cs that I>efore pupiv teachers are appointed tbey should show ] a medical certificate of fitness, as teachers have to do, and tins was approved. A discussion took place on motions regarding Bible raiding in >chools. j* re». ported elsewhere. The secretary then T'ead ,M»me notes he had - prepared." in reply to a number of questions he had received from member*, regarding (a) the Education Act Amendment Act. and <b> the Teachers' Superannuation Act. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Valentine for the trouble ha had taken.