N Z. Educational Institute.

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9832, 3 January 1901, Page 2

N Z. Educational Institute.

(IVr A Jr«ss AssoL-iatiou.)

WELLINGTON,' January 2,

The eighteenth annual meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute, opened this morning. Mr W. J. Grundy of Wellington (President) in the chair. The Mayor of Wellington delivered a hearty speech of welcome. The President in his opening address confined himself to two points—(l) the working of the new regulations idp examination of, schools; and (2) proposed colonial scale of staffs and salaries. As to the former he pointed out that though teachers now had freedom of classification, the standard pass was still retained to the detriment of real education. He suggested the- excision of the provision for the standard pass and the substitution of a special examination for a "leaving certificate" which might be called the "honor certificate." As to a colonial scale he deprecated the cry of some beards that the Institute wanted control. of the teachers taken, out of their hands and vested In the central depart, ment. The only change desired was the classification of the schools of the colony, nnu tiiat the staffing of schools should be according to-a definite co.onial scale and make the system truly national. He earnestly appealed to the Boards to take a generous view of the position. - ■

TRAINING TEACHERS. A discussion, took place on the training oi teachers. Mot/ions an the subject, from, Otago and Marlborough, appeared on the agenda paper, urging the necessity, for making more adequate provision for training teachers. One of the, Speakers said he thought it unfair that Otago and North Canterbury, which had had the only training colleges in the colony, should bear the cost of training teachers for the whole colony.

A motion was moved "That the Government should undertake the training of teachers for the whole colony." The mover urged that there should be one college for the whole colony iind thought Wellington would be the most suitable centre.

Another speaker urged that a training college and chair of pedagogy, which it was proposed to establish in connection with Victoria College would fit in well I together. He pointed out that the Government had appointed dairy and poultry j experts ond asked why should they not \ppoint teaching experts to go into the back blocks and instruct teachers there I how to teach?

An amendment to . the motion was moved to the effect that the whole cost be paid by the department and no part come out of teachers' salaries. The motion was carried. The following resolutions were also agreed to: "That the following changes be made in, the methods' of examination for teachers' certificates: (a) that code, words or.numbers be adopted instead of names of candidates; (b) that the names of the examiners be placed at the heads of the papers set; (c) that spelling lists supplied to supervisors for dictation to candidates should show the pronunciation and meaning of each- word for the information of supervisors and candidates.

A remit from Southland was amended and passed in the following form: "That the Minister of Education be asked to introduce a School Attendance Bill to raise the school age to fourteen years, and .to make the compulsory limit of distance threo miles for those over nine years of age, and two miles for those between seven and nine."*

At the instance of North Canterbury it was resolved, "That the attention of the Minister for Education be called to the inadequacy of the provisions for enforcing the School Attendance Act and to the desirability of placing the duty of such enforcement in the hands of the police."

It was further resolved "That between the ages of seven and fourteen years, every child be required to attend school for not less th.an three fourths of the number of times the school is open in each week." „ .

The report of the Treasurer showed that ths legal defence fund had been raised to £438. ■