EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 397, 5 January 1909, Page 7

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

CONFERENCE AT DUNEDIN. .. INTERESTING ANNUAL EEPORT. (DY TELEGRAPH—rRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, January 4. The annual conference of the New Zealand Educational Instituto opened at Dunedin today, Mr. W. Newton, of Thames (president), being in:the chair. The delegates were welcomed l>y the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr. J. M'Donald), the chairman of tho Otago Education Board (Hon. T, Fergus), and Mr.W.. -S.-Fitzgerald (Inspector). The president delivored a lengthy addrese on the "Ideal Teacher." In the course of his remarks ho said: "In New Zealand able men; an?l good have left the profession riot merely for'mercenary reasons,' but because they found conditions often so harassing and so unsatisfactory. Their masters were too many and their powers and their'opportunities too circumscribed. If tho. State wants idoal teachers it must pay salaries commensurate with the demand which it makes upon those teachers. It must; give a reasonable prospect of advancement and security of tenure ito all who render faithful ; and efficient service, aiid it will do well to call to this work men'and women who will undertake it because of."its-nation,-building', possibilities'. ■ The corporate life, of a school depends"mainly, if not gether. on the teaoher, but tho curriculum depends upon departmental officials." ■; .' The annual report stated that the member-' ship at the , beginning of the year was 1815,. and at , tho end of the year it stood at 2152—an increase of 337. lii eight case 3 the institute supported in law Courts.members in cases arising out,of professional. engagements. In'the majority of these cases teacherS : were called upon to defend charges for assault. . The executive recommended that in-ho; case shall a member of the institute agree to.plaintiff withdrawing action except on payment of' all legal and out-of-pocket expenses of\defendant." . .-. ..■ '■ One case in-the teachers Court of 'Appeal' was undertaken by tho oxecutive. The appeal' involved the questiin':of the legality of. an Board's action in transferring al teacher, with consequent-loss in'status and salary. , -The appeal was lost,' and the Court declined to give judgment on the point raisedas to power of the Education Board to fer the teaoher with , consequent loss in status, and salary.- In view : of tne wide powers of transfer vested : in Education Boards by the Education Act, 1908, the executive considered I .it highly, desirable .that a : definite", pfonouriccment on this important question should be obtained. . •' ! . ■ •'..• '■■-::' ."■: ' .-.; j ; The report added:—"The condition of the teaching' profession in the; Dominion. muet 1 now bo- regarded, ori the , whole, as ■ satisfactory.- In view of .the substantial: benefits secured, by -recent legislation, the executive feel that teachers will be wise,in making no further .demands on the "public 'funds' for some time to come. The- executive; recoih-' mend.that the future' policy of the institute; should be to maintain and safeguard'the present condition, of teachers; ..to ' protect, teachers ; in; the.- proper ..discharge 'of..' their duties, and to realise more fully, the educ.atiorial'.aspect' of the-institute's work?'. . ; The report .-was ■ adopted; and ■' a "committee appointed-; ; to ■";; apportion . the', Gore'rrimerit' grant of '£100 towards "the-expenses 'of the session. -■."■ '■• • ' "'■['■ ::'.-. '■■?■■■' '.':■'.:>' > The■ following resolution's .were-carried:—: ■' '(1) "Thaik the institute -is . strongly ' of ; opinion; that the' time has for the, modification : and rearrangement of. ■ the arithmotio ■•'; -prescribed;'.for;,- the standards,' and requests'■:the'■■,Minister; , !for'' Education.!; to' take. prompt action ; in".'-' this' direction;" ' (2)'. "That ;.it; bo suggested to : ,the Education, Department that T tho 'printing and of test cards- ih ; .'arithmetic 'and English.be discontinued, sucßi 'practice being entirely'opposed to the freedom given by one of the : basic 'principles.;of the'primary 'school syllabus."' (ity-"That' the attention'■:of the ' liispector-General of Schools be'drawn to. the difficulty t arid .'vagueness , of' : test '-'cards ..in English in;,tbe upper; standards , of-.primary schools;'' v ' '"•■'■ ■■■ ; '■■.'''".:'•■■;.-' ■;-.-'.".;-"..'.•; ,iv'-: