TEACHERS' CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 707, 5 January 1910, Page 6

TEACHERS' CONGRESS.

-V ? '~ INAUGURAL SESSION. 0 THE MAYOR ADVOCATES MODERNISING OF IDEALS. , THE, EXAMINATION FETISH

morning!: theStwenty-seventh-[s^distribfe^trahche^ioffthejANewyv&aland i'l^Eauaation&iVins'tiiu&^was'i'pp^n'ea^aii.tiie !^^;MiC.iA^xßuiiding^ohe : jfoUo^ing; : :^ele-; 'iijgatW^eiugii^resent^v.'jyfjJi , ;,:;-:.;^^]^!^^ Q! '-M/u C; i.;*Uiin;^Eoster^'-M;A;;^AVeUingtqE;;7:treas-sJ^rfvMr^SThb^as^H^hes/^BiAi/Christ-! :J■■;ch : urcKi!/^ : '>fef.'yL;A^H ; ;^ i ; i ■''; : ;■ ? ;) : •-^ ,^•?;;^:i;;;:'^;;

;;s;;;;^^filcialtMembers:--!^rth::;lsland-;;f;,vMf;,j(jJfW::Mu>ray>'Aucklandr'Mr;.James: f:iv/Edu<iation S; JDistrict—llr. r y^ Mr^i! j;- r Caughley^M^. 1 ;' SbutK:! ay-j-Mr: ;-j J.; :H^-Harkness;: •• !^;'!Wmlj^pavidsdn/:DunedinV;:;; .'■;•,■■ ;•' v-''-- : •' ffivfe v District':;. Institutes :■; J/wrrAuckland: /Miss iE".: Shrewsburj , , ■ M>A. : ,. &M: Miss:;-M. .I'SiSNewmahi^Messrs.i"■:N; : •' B. s-SM^K^nzieriE;:H.-Patersorii;H; : Cousins,' Siv?MiA:;,;W.vH: -Newtoii; !F.-:r;Brbwn/ :'RV ft-;':CampbeU;; i :<3.;E,-;.Lippiatt,v:M.A./,and T; : Mail,. ;;k'EfeLriM'llfby ) vMiAi; i tand"" H; •'. A; ■• Strat-" s : Kff6rd.'«:'WarigahuiK ; Messr's.'::D/ ; .;W;:':Low 1 i^Ej i fE;'!V¥;atson,Vand,;J.:iO'Beilly. ; •y-}'i'Bay,:^MrK'^H:rAnderspni^Mesas';': : B.: Bag-' jley/iiE:iß;-'=Holines,-and "P:: J:;:Eo)vley/ K ; yVCwell; ■ran'd^M:,;-P^:\Cr'aig/ i: 'Messrs.- ; :-H;-'..' : .'A"."'. j6:Parkinson, : M;Av;i; : !N >-Burns; 'B!4'.i;and & G. ?M.v He'nilerspn.-yiMarlborough :.-:Mr; ?N) • ,S f C;VSmitfc : Nelsbk^Messrs'.- |;: i :li;vF.;;de':B>rry," : MiA:U;A7estland J: ; :i;;" : J.'.vHendersbn.;: i -.North"; Canterbury:: Miss 0&i Chaplini:.B. A;.V, M«ssfs;'T.: H/ Ambrose, ! j;iß.A:^GH:G^Owen;:;M^v;E>u;;;Just, , 'and: 'South Ca'nterbury..::::.Messrs> SHM::;Ml*eod,;-B.A:^J: ; !iMenzies;- and' 'J.';A.. '!:S^ntiM^':B:A;;vVOttgo!:n:Miss-,VJ. i ; ; ' ; £irHooper;" ;: Me!ss'^ fii Endey/AVvVy;: -'Flamanki; fe' : 'and^W.^Ph|mife;!;!Southlaiid^.. I Misses':.H: ; |;HM;a'.i>;tt;;,P ; 4^pung;Vand^A/'Greig/S, ; :■ iJiSjTheyinaugiiialVfessipni: extending .from. ''& lo^a»m'il;till;';l2.3o';:'pymi/:'was ; -fully "occu-, ; fAV V&K.y: j^W^an)^^ ■ Education tß6a'fd;{Mr.v Ebbert! ?^M*e);-.'wfo'rinalljf.-.'welcomed '■ the .'delegates. i , is.Ct,tiM&ffong'dJ,-'"!deHvered;"-'i'his,-". t i'nauifural. SVi Ideals" 3 an'(l';:,thft a conference;:' af terw.ird.s7 , ;\Ut«rijal'. : 'ecqii6m'"7v. >'.rfo:!;;'S^ S;*% D Eb?( : :;J ; ;;| : : tfei'^^AraEESS^BT^

:|!iM6&athe!;c6urs'e;/iof/ii : a;.-bri^:iaddfessrtf' sWwelcpme/fhisiiWorsh'ip.rwHo.^wasireceivetl:' :ftf;Tnth;'Vapplauseyi;said ,;.that; thoughv once; Sintimatelyi;;:cbhnected3t; ; witt:7Peducatipii ; ; J&li^d'/atoinis^tigtf.l^eiWMYa'fraid'/ffiatr i^slie;yM^ratlier!'6nt ; \bf;\t6ucK%ith'-'.tlie.'prpf , > JSSf essipnt'nowV; "He ; ,the " edri-/ *^fer^(»tSon ? .;the'Vi':niabjrial;;iadyaricerQent: i*which';had -been? made 1 ' from iyear.'to-year;/ ty'arid'.that ■ tie;application ;. of ■ the 'principle! i iimpriism::;iin';Vthe;! teaching J; profession] been?so }productiy"e'jof '■■■ good 1 'results;;. ;t&Th^had : now?in;New'^aland^asyery;fine ;',wJM(»ridary-;s'chbols ) i '-the"(Mnditi6n , ofVwhi^^^^^^ i§i>till.'ileurtvery^Tnuch 1 vln; i'vSthe^-uiiiversityi'ial.sb,. : ;there;,;was.;ai;grqw-' [^.Viin^ifwling^tßattihe'Videab'^bf^ttat^ |4 : :Btifol^pn^regnrr^c;a'iQ'mdment(vin'\cerikin>' p.direotidhs/.arid'its.' activities -directedMntp, v aiid' KSGreeK'istilKstdpd ? to f sys^ ; [•Jtematio) progTessViri : "higheri; education. --'fle--|g;|ittg^sthose:'pr^enti;tO'?fMUrttheimov&-, or!i : they.radd§rni?ing ]■ in i [.;KWucaf^^:There^;Was;^i;tendency^a^ > prl-';tbei^Ttvof:th9'''' pScatidnal; , necessities; of Hhe''^^pres6nt.vin f ;the r jSSligKty'pf- ; '5W,w P;.MdJCto!i;pyerloplC;;;t^ t^^ifdi^ons^of^rl^i^n^'envirbnment^/ancf^ f,S Conditipn's/. of life ;; had' materially, , , changed'; f;,.i the (aspect;.''of : ;rhbdern-; lnipwle'dge;'"and;Vcul-'; tained • the;delegates'< fe-<OTth^an^ijiterestirigjrecital.:;W':his-career;; 'f> ; B;had"bpentshis;lifetime/ : '.;,'ja_d K dress; ki<tioiis?:of£th^m : Kdon^in^EiiglaudVaiid^NewjZealaiid^v'-. ; K v? GepS Macmdrraii;' j| ; i-,a^hearty^ypte.of;^thanks, .acclania-'; ?td^'h'is; : ; Worship ■;'and ; -, : to |MiS|:PiREi:i.M i nAß'y;;* b'usln ess£jsk ;'>f;>it;.;was>:agre^'Jth'at ; S^wVduring■■ithβfperi^;.oi:'■■t^;co^«ien(» : ifebey;frdmS9.3P;i'a.mJ f ftd/'J2.3o«p;in.,vfahd , IFifrom' i -2.30|:tb:~5;30 > p;m;': v :*i'tf ir^'ap'ppinted^.tb^alot-v'u^c'bairman^'df'^cpm'.- , !'(ptasb) ? ass.''<Aji'piland)':f/"aiiditprJ : '■.' Messrs"." •'/Holmes: Berry;^(Grey);;^and '.'■ l^/iww*~Bs;Aa <^'cDmmit^.'^te;^'Bpporliib|i''': '"tbo'; i''\ v ; <. ffiylt;JwM:-;alsP < ;agre^d';that'an i -;futu're;:''a' 'registered'ilaccd'untantftbe' f : appointed; iid;:! ''affairs J /df'' the' ic>ini»titufei : .;;--'-;i«i>.;v^^ : :y- •?.,%•;., .^v-'- , ;■s,.;. :^: $>?&; " EDUCATIQN AL> ID E ALS; ,, :; l^::^ ) it|'i , ■ PEESIDBNT.:^/:

fe ;Mta G;iW.vC. : i;Macdbnald; (president ■ .|;t%'institute); : then'; : deliverid/;his , f> ral t^fcyp?' ; his FV"Educatit)n,;lde : al&'^:.•By.;;tfay..iof K i.SlrvjiJ'Ma^P o saidJ'he'Jdesired >;to" ||-Tiewis';;^cirtain"^tducat&nU.i ! {questibiis j o&ririgv'probleins'jfortcondde'ratiohwiiich. I icomd , . , only*be :■;solved 'by; the- : evolving;, ofI measures-;;of,! V. practical; ! .. , ; 'iitility.V?^vThese J I qn«stiphs,V:he { said, I'.required.: to.-be : : con-. j, 6idered:\fr6m.the::stanQpoihtrbf,''.tne;.:in--I.;Principles ''of; ■| national;." education -hadi developed: : by '■■'& d jirpcess' Jof adaptation '! : to" J(;tKe' i .:changM>;Vconditipnß'vVpf.lan'^ , flyer-|d4: ; 3|ydoptiig,vcMi»tibn;'a^'pneof.' , -.Uie;'latest"- , ;, aipects;,o,f.; i .theiri.work was;',the-.education : SEjt^'^'^eo^.'-itq^tteVdig'nity-Vpfjilabqnr, , - , V ? branqh;of';hi<jman:;actiyity 1 physical, i'ijin^U^Kaid ,, -morale sides-"pf/Sa ; child's yrnatui;e,Sin::'prder-;that ! •thesbest'; of ;whftii : ■■;")

s ! lp,There twas S no:/doiibt^ iis ieaid; -- that 5 . :7gin : /their .V'sclidolst' ./-.'.Children's.games, un■/iless,improperly: ;,brganise.d;,:'werei-.;of"little' ;};']ivfilne.'.;s¥ What"vWastfeqafred / was ■: a"' har- , , :. of-the sairanian/frame i ;:and, u ,tb/that : least' '. ; be,^de; ; - ■j.:vroteA ;.tbv ; :cxercisesj,fpr3; , .the.:muscles : ; of ;■':ltne->head,.; th'e'iarins,'!.th6 'body,'-.' the • legs' ,;-fland:;the/f€et;/wi):fl"speciar:attrition- to -,:nbreathing;?exercise>.:(: i/The;'.schbbl :: th'at vf/jpossessed.'a/gymnaaum/was',fortunate- in : ; v;V^pf:j..the;upp?r'/sta : Wards;//Swiinming, : :one' I. vjßfitheir.linest.,exercises, sHould-.be taiight ';'formed part", of ;V.:;[endanco ■■piroi'ed;; ' ; a//;high " stantlaid ■: •of /.'/]pny3ical:vhealth--pne.':school J ,/with : a'ro'll Wi of 95i per ?cent;' of -attend-'. ■■* /that/ ;vv]}Kysi9iilv training- '.ensured:-..; far ; " •''gMater ;/ : ■/,',;:;;/ :

: -'Wi^W ;A'K ; ft;-A/v:/ft;// v ;;:s:;^//-•;v^;./,; L^l^JH^^^Defective/Teeth.;/;///.;-;/;:/' i ■ of :^7|^yacal-.''defel6pmerit; i :andt. , not;:a''"'tMcner : i ;iiiresent':could-deny,.th'e'deplorable- cbhdi-' :::.;Hpn : ;pf-r.tte>'teetH;pf'-thW-{imldren;ißo;-per. .' sCient::- of .-'whom^/w'ere-'urialile to .ihasticato •-:■ tbeir/food/jiroperly/ '?'. This--wasV tf/condk p., tioriv. of-'.things.,; w.nich'.-'eohstituted -a ; ;na-: v : tionaljweakness,;-lradingi' sooner or.: later, , ■;-/to .physical degeneratwn.'.,Ttey.hdd ; heard r ..';a'.'gobdideal; about':'dental-inspection:' -For /^^lisHpart^ho:.would * sap that ; ; >;/vi'a's.-better.:'; than': inspection, •:• and'preven-: •;:■.. :■*;.':■: ■'■ ; ; -.-, / fl'rv

>;^pi;§*ACongeste^P|aygroundsi : ./:/::':y:./ ■:>v]iContinning/Mr'; that a: ■;;, good/deal/had • been' , 'said;;'and .reiterated j. //©inperning :: : th'e;',.-:cbngeste3i. condition .of! •;!>'t)ieir/'schOol playgroiinds/Xittlb.complaint' ;.;•':eiuld..bevrnade with '■: respect to,thei plo'yof /country', xtildreri/, ..but in the' ' ciingeste'd/e'ehfjes;-; of..'pbnulatidn; '.•■ /where "'ndreds >.of j childrdh. wCTe: crowded. into' 'Jl.': 1 backyards,'■'■'.andf-'gamea.'icbuld .lonlv

be' indulged in; with" difficulty!-arid even ■danger." ■■ Most, of ,the : New-Zealand urban and.isuburbah'ech'qols .required larger ,'playgrounds/...:and' might! becomo' after.'schoplhoiirs-centres-for the'children: of the neighbourhood. Every schoolroom' was .supposed!to. provide :a minimum supply of. cubic' , air space ;'fbrvciich'.child; it/was /equally necessary. that a- prescribed area.vot play space..should be defined for .eachl v puiiili--i'-i':■,>■.<;■; :f'v ; / .i*rV\\::.'-.-v ~'.•■ . :

-Y;:;: of' Diseases. : ■;_ .; .All.: observant teachers had'no ;doubt •been 'aware of;.the .increasing ; frequency and regularity. oiVscho'olepidemics.. Were not', their; schools- seminaries. of.' these diseases ? .asked the president/ in the course ofi. some;' practical ■ observations upon the •s«bjoct;of school ibuildinps.. Some system iwas-required' whereby the : latent ..germs, -.which infested Ithe ;school buildings, furr. 'mture,..and)!precincts/!.cbuld be regularly disinfected..'.!';: It : '-.'was "riot: sufficient .that some of;thevschbolsin a. particular community., hady recognised the need for such 'a system, arid carried it:out/ : Onb school which/ncglectediits duty'in- that respect would contaminate the .whole community.

'.-/,;-.>'j:.; ;-..■'.■->"Ch ild USlavery.■" r<-. [ ' hp; ■■; ■; Another" 'important 'matter";■ deserving ; of■; close ■!attention was the: evil •-. of. child;labour.:/It was erroneously, supposed .this . ovil.;!was: confined. solely to country districts...- He' stated that "many, qhildreri. in towns had to .-get' up at 3.30'a.m; to , : deliver; milk- or.papers..during 'the. morning 'hours;:-almost _ up;-till school time. ! Some of...these) children' worked; from 10. daily, , ' yet:they iconsidered: that'eight hours .per , 'day-.was 'sufficient for ;.;an '. adult.-// Under ; : such.. conditions, i there : 'was ; "no ■ doubt" that'mental '/arid : physical, development.! was. /seriously./ re-' tardea , .;'/// /:';:;'•■;.: ../;-;!';' '!.•■ .;>;.'''■ !■';-''; '■■r- ■ : :' A 7 Utopian Suggestion/. : : ;

vt.'l do iriot 'propose;.-to';.deai::TrithV, that real and .conspicuous menace, to;,the con!tiniuty!;pf:Vthe.;:British:;race, the/empty, /cradle, fnor ■'•' with":, that: equally;' menace, the- r'one" chief-'fam"ily,"-...;con-;tinuiSdvMr.- vMacdprialdjV'Trat. I-.wish to ; draw';., attention. (-: to ■■ the; '.disadvantages '■many7children suffered' from; .through in-; parents.". They: had : heard i.the. Cry : "back;t6 the'home,":but:in:the. bustle \;bf:,life';'and> the;'pursuit ■'.'.of..'wealth.'the''old rhpmejife, .-.with:.- all;; its> hallowed associations,.- was a■• thing jof ,tke past: ..Th.e.cliildren,of the wealthier jblaffies-didr£6t , as 'those - ' of 'the ..masses/ , a, "fact' due; : to the ■' circumstance > thai ■ they, were trained in: boarding/schools, where '/discipline was; anfbrcfld.;'.: ; ''At bne timej,the education; of ■ all.,;the;.;children;'of community; was: AquitoKTJtbpianY , ;would'- it.be regarded/as' equally' .visionary to snggest.- : .that \tlia '■■ tim'eVinay!-:spine.l%hen- it - will. pay-, a-! cbuntry/';jn •its-.own':; interests, .to gather-all tits semor-pupilS'Viii. boarding -'.;\-:.-->:■'..-;U";:-''.;-^>*f• Vw.-/i'^"''■;'-."".^ ; -.-:.>.>: "■

:; ; "V^!:!Plethora 1 : Examinations^.: ::n " L "Never^ - in.,ihe(history;.of Zealand;" »:cqntinued-;;:th'e:;;.speaker,-;:: "have ■children.,; : ;been'o subjected -■'to-such . a plethora, of.;examinations as!,at;.the''precrept into everything,: to '.such .'w r - extent; that! v in! many ."minds' , 'the • word; examination become'.synori^mbus^'witli'-,education. '.We! :,are :..all! : .. familiar . .with- that ■ National nuisance, the";'. music examination.'-'- - The-,Sunday'.:Schools.■■arid-Navy !' ; League:-;fol-. lqwed: : ;with;-:,tKeif.;;tests; .public :cbmpeti-' -tionsl: demand ■: v tteir!,;:quota.;,The-Ecliobl examinations,?, '.competericy, , .':: proficiency,•; continuation;aboard 'scholarships,'national', scholarships;.'Civil.'.'Service',; arid Matricu.'latipri■>Succeed'in'Vdue^■'course.- ..-Finally,' even- 'our, highest educatiqnal;.!!cbrpprationi" the ./JJew;Zealand: :tTniyersity; I. is , ' '-purely• ■an'oxamininß\bqdy.'.with its soul resident. iri : :-!Europe.":,;.(Laughter.).i:': ;."- : .'i.'-..-•'; .■:,,'■:)■

■' r'y-Largq;^Classes;;-Gongested^'Rooms. t^:, "of';.large;:<!lasses;?^MT. 1: ■'dondd-'ymt'-onvto-isay.v/slM'Kcontißu'ed.-"In"'many; ofv'onr .Jlargei '_■ /schools,"" , ; he said; i:"spme'- assistants :have* from.'.7o /to Bfl's,'(iildrenj;tej':'teach ;'.i all; .experts f.knpw. fimpossible';fdr ■' any /teacher to " dp\, justice to 'more;,than ''.40. '-Again, it:'-is .'riot. unusual,: tbjfind; from ; 70< to SI) children--.packed'/in', "a" 'room //designed .-to accommodate "/'only/' , half''.-thaj;' number; ■Surely/^vfcontended^.Mr. i'Macdonald, .''if the ■'physical K interests'.i'of;. employees aro .safeguarded by : th'eV provision !■■-,of aj.statu-; '.tory/'.amount- : -.pf air. space, .similar 'treat■ .menti-':should;. lie ;; 'accorded f,;:io : !.-BchooI children? -.'; In the .interests' of humiinity; schools,',should be.-.brought ■ under/i the" Factories -Act-.arid ;,.,fln^s : ,' imposed / for h'j.jviiv-V ; . ■ ■ - ; '-- 'tlMel lowed > Inspectors.' [■[ %- y :' '~.v-',;

' ''^^':With" i .the--"devero'pmeiit l 'of /■educational: ideUs'fandiUbevpbaagea'rJinV'-.iifle'th'ods.'.'of :teaching.i'andUnspection,', there./had. come ar corfbsp'ondiiig .'evolution-in';the methods adopted-,:by-Echqpl:; inspectors in the f6rmahce: i of;.tlieir r p'fficidl;\duties, with-the. resdtr^tbat > -;jtliw'e;;- : 'y{as'.^owV.>pparent : :a .■clMer:':^y^patl^^.bej*eM:^cner..--.an'd';-ih- , ;Spectdrj-: and' -a:., friendly .":cd-iperation\b.e-. : tween :,tbe: two.; which/- : well, for the'i:ultim : ate/realisation/bf:- the--highest ideals.; in'. the art; of teaching.' ■ \.■;';■.-; -'); -::

- ■"-■ '■:';:, : .-i : :--j-Mr.VMacddnald^h''ad.:a;!mtic^''"WMS' : 'or' two'- to- ; say : qn.;..the';subject,;of .private schools.;',The.Statei./he.'.said;-:had.;almost' ,a i ..indndpoly M .wer'o./'however,, some... and •'. denominational, schools :.inr;eiistence, and any: /headmaster.-toew, :• from, "eiperience,,/what ' ; a':^eb'opk!<*'he,.'received .when ■he 'examined. iov,- classification. purposes .{..'pupils.' ■ from. these /institutions. :• Private/ school-teach-: ers'.shbuld :b,e::;obliged ( .,tp.'conform : ;td' the; rules, of 'iall ;estabfished/;professions, .and' produce ■; i'documontary:, evidence;' of; their qualifications for appointment.;'' Further/ all/'private schools, should "be; subject-to Government 1 inspection.',-r/;./w : :',<-.'

:,<.;..;-",;■;;;High; Schtiols^Unsatisfactory.■■ ■y '■ ■:, TW.Wgh.s'cKobV. system' of'.New.ZealanoV .;conti.nued the'president,;, was stilllunsatis;factory. ,:.So.'tar..{as'.specialisation -was held.,that rlittle coiiM : be ■Attempted;- inV:the' 'primary, , schools,.'. l»ut .sorno' , radical ' : ;improyenients ■could be ;ef-, fected',/in,the;secondary schools, "which ,at-'present,. :were' little ;better .than feeders for; the {university. •:■' •Although:''the main pai't.Vof: the:weaiyvVof:'the.'country was derived yfro;nKfarming,\ little or '■ nothing was;.;being' done^iri , ; the.'-direction '■■ of disseminatmg,,(k]iowlei]ge,;. and :■ stimulating 'tho.'study ;of,Vagriciiltufe'.and. stock-rais-:\nß<-<utVibbuld-Vnot'-' pay", the ■ country.' to neglect.;these; subjects,' and, 'although. a good ; ;deal, had .been done /by the' Department -of '.Agriculture by? means of circu : lated. .pamphlets,;.:, something.more practical ';' was. i-equired;v'and , -.'".this' practical work ;.;,was,; the .function. of 4 the : high;»schools;:;';;Ho : ,considered" that the 'special ..teacherstappointod to-the''staffs ot, ; these; .institutions 'should^'be, experts ;in .'mixed..farming;-.every district [high school should :.be. a-training:, and experiment, farm .centre for -its '■special district.,;. J'-'--'- .' -:■•■•'• ■ ■;;.'■■..;■;'■ ■.-.• : ■ -•■■ .

/';'/;/;./;/:■ Moral vjhstriictlon'/ '"'■'•/■■■■:: ;: ,;' Continuing, ; Mr..-'Macdonald' , said /he , :would .teach • the,!children to■ read'. intel--iligently.'so that;the acquirement of knowledge ; might/.be.', open .'to" them;- train ■ them in..observation; and .the drawing of conclusions;;in experiment aid the correct 'recording; of .results. .■ Singing should be, taught as a relief;fjom ordinary vwork,. and ■tha.'hana'.'.and. eye:should :be ; trained 'by i rmeans,:of;manrial work.'.'.'"The mostimportant part* of education, 'moral l training,!., could .'hevreparded only/.with ; . fdre- ' boding".// The ultimate ' sanction behind ;hll, school., .morality' seemed/to be' the ; .teaoher's- cane! bv the pbliceman's birch. :"In'. all our, educational work, the ideals," 'continued: the .■president,,'"shqrild : Iμ 'the and the, best, yet ye' have- prac-.' tically debarred' from our: primai'y schools the' Book) .which ;inculcates.; the . highest and/purest, .type' of!■morality,''.which : ad-' ministers the: oath, the main/foundation of the purity, of our,courts'of justice," and which .supplies• the' language which per-, meates tto whblo. of .our liteVature. The, imoral'/law.vrDo: to/others oas''you-would like/othera'to do ; to':you'»we 'may 'find beforevlong.'interpreted:in/'the:'words of ; David Harum, T/o; to' "the/other "fellow:astto other fellow, would'do to you, and do it first.'- /The 'fate iof prance-.' after the, Revolution proves that nothing but disaster awaits ■ a. nation. vy,:ith6ut a belief. ;-If 'ire/wish'ouf' children to havo more ;iron> in ..the blood; of their principles, /we '■■■'; must ;prosent: befpr,e' them ■ the Jiighestj, purest; ami ibest mordFcxamples. :In' this.'■- new'. country, : . far ','re'inoved ■'■ from ■ the. larger: cejitres of. population, and un.trammelled by,the traditions' and-absurd class distinctions 'of older lands, we have: ;a splendid .opportunity to work ,out' our ;divT) destiny, oh/lines that .should make .for.natiprinl ■tiplifting'and,'national'greatness..'. Let::us, teachers,-Vjsfee'Vto it. that we/do ...what . we. can ..towards this national '• llplift,/and.'let: us 'fearlessly ■raise our.'voices;against- anything .that' we' think would, tend to ' mar • oiir : :^national ; ideal. co'nclu'sipn,. I. would .quote/from fessor vM'Haffy; 1 'This'•; modern : democratic

jdoal of education which regards only'the development ■of the: intellect, exemplifies the same kind of mistake as the medieval ideal of'asceticism.',". (Applause.)

~v AFTERNOON .SESSION. ■.. 't.::TEE -ANNUAL ■■■;■[:. At the'comiaoncemenV of the afternoon session; the annual report of the Executive Committee for. the year ended December 31, 1909, was read. -.The report .stated; that according to: the treasurer's returns for 1903, the membership of the . institute.; at the :beginning of the year was:2ll7;. at present-the', roll stood at ,2251/ being an .increase, of "137. . Appreciation of the honorary services of-Mr. John Monzies, registrar... of. subscribers, was recorded.: In view of an unusual accumulation of important business early in the yeaiv.it was deemed advisable to hold a" .meeting'-'bf -the- whole executive at .IVI-' lington,.', on . Saturday,. April : 10, when there, were discussed- questions relating the of a benovolont fund in connection with the institute; (b). the investment \of the' trust funds, of the institute; and (c):certain legal"matters.'\ ;.; ;;;. ; ,. ..; '■/■■,

; in ; accordance with, a resolution of the institute,- the .executive gave notice of a proposal .to insert", a new. clause in the constitution of the institute; 'to enable a benevolent fund to! be . established. An important"; series of notices of motion dealing with'the investment of the funds of the institute 1 and other financial mat-ters-was sent forward' by the'/executive for'.-; consideration by the conference. These: proDosala were the outcome of the deliberations during the -year of a finance' sub-committee of the.executive, and ;were /agreed to .by' ■ the executive as ;a whole'."...'■■.-.: .-,-;■■ '•■-:-.■■•'. ; ;.:-"•'.;:■ V ; : '

■ Tor. some time it.has been, the practice of the Marlboro ugh. -Education. Board to appoint its teachers on■ a-, yearly 'tenure.,, It -was felt; by; the ..institute that such , action deprived teachers so appointed'.of ,thb .rights and privileges conferred' bn.them .by--Part" VIII of the Education .Act, :l9pß.;.The.:passing.of : 'the' Declaratory" Judgments: Act,. 1908,; made a-.way open for. the settlement of- the validity of thevMarlborough . Board's action .-in -a biyil-iandnon-ljtigiqus,manner.,' ..The institute's'^legal'■advisers';.were,; therefore, instructed!; to move in and they! did , so, ".with '.the .result' that ..his. Honour. "Mr. ' Justice. ,'■: Chapmani.. .held; j thht:. ..the! :action .'of- the/ :Marli borough Board-., was invalid. ■It ;,'iwas"''- subsequently understood th&t the board' 'in;, question discontinued appbiuting' its teachers on ■a' yearly', tenure -after the' preliminary steps the; declaratory, judgment had'been taken. The executive'was! accorded an: interview: wi th the Minister, for' Education ;on April 20,-' !1909/-.wheri; the. resolutions passed at .the last" .annual .meeting....: of ...the. .institutewere, submitted. to.;him for.- consideration. TheO replies;-of 'the r were forwarded., to the secretaries bf-district- institutes Legislation affecting thei teaching profession passed during : tie. recent:: session came.under tw^'heads,:—(a); Superannuation ;;■' (b)! the.'■.'•Defence. :, 'Act.' The most important -alteration 'made in the' Superannuation Act -was ■•'■to amend Section 12 of-the Public; Service:. Classification and Superannuation' ■"'. Act/ • which gate ■ tho!'Minister power'-'to admit to pensions ,male■.contributors of; 60'; years, of age,'by-extending this, power, so- as to apply to teachers of 55 years of age, and not less than 30 years' service. ■.•,-..:. .:... ; The' executive kept:, in view, as far as possible .the passage ;of that- portion'; of; the. Defence Act- which now; controls the school cadet corps>.. The clauses relative to -..junior.'lcadets; were; passed as-; or.iginrally printed.; .Since the.Act is merely a skeleton,one,:.and:will:depend largely for", its' -successful. • working ' pn ':■ regulations gazetted, under it, the , issue of tnese.'will be looked for with considerable interest., "■

On ■ only- two -, occasion's during' the. past : year was it./necessary for. the; institute to support.members,in the law courts. Both were cases; of- , common assault,; • and both judgment was riven -in favour of■ the teachers concerned.' : ' ' :...' " .The; report was : discussed : in; committee and'adopted.;/./.: '.-/''vv- ■ - ,: '.

TEACHERS' BENEVOLENT. FUND. Regulations for the establishment of a teachers' benevolent fund ivere adopted as follow —

1;: The benevolent fund shall consist of the surplus : from the legal assistance fund over- and'above the sum-of -and of any sum or. sums thatmay .be voted from the ordinary fund by the -annual meeting of?the::w.Z.E.l:,-.' ; '";■:-":'',-. i>^

;v: 2. The' object'lof, the'.fund - shall' be to. - afford ;:assistaiice';; to' .teachers :'or toe their dependents/i/whpl'may: be; in .;.necessitous circumstances'.';:';;:■,:•;; .-'^,':. :; ' ; ,.- '•!:',, '.y'B.-;The teapher in;cdrinection with .whom an- appeal is made must. : have/been' a member of-a -district /institute of' tho, N.Z.E.I.V.for .at. least, five'years prior.te; the datevof'.such ;appUcatfon^'i; ;; - ■•■•••.■■■■■,■:>'- ■': 4. Every appeal shall .be made through, and: shall ; bo.. recommended by; ;■ the' local ;/v. .ft:- :. /:-.-•"', ■■ : ■'•■ 5. The : 'fund; shall.!» administered by ihe-executiye of the N.ZlEil.' ;.,'.' VO. The fuiid.shall<.be heldby-.the,;Pub-■lic; Trustee, Wellington.—(The executive through the-Wellington : .lnstitute;).;.;' -