TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1610, 29 November 1912, Page 9

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

REMITS FOR ANNUAL MEETING. HEAVY ORDER PAPER. The annual meeting ofthe New Zealand Educational Institute, to be held at New Plymouth on January 1 nnd following days, promises to be one of the most important in the' history of the institute. The order paper, 'so far as the number of remits is conoemed, is probabaly a record one. The following; are same of, the more interesting of the remits-.— . That at least two Departmental inspectors be appointed, one for each island, their duties being to travel through the various education districts and report to the Department on the schools visited by them.—(Taranaki.) That the senate of the University of New Zealand be urged to include "Agriculture" as a' subject of examination for the degrees of B.A. and B.Sc.—(South Canterbury.) Tlmt this institute'is opposed to the demand that is sometimes made that the average ages of the various classes should bo kept as low as possible, and would point out that medical experts have frequently declared that children should commence their school career later in life. But this institute is of opinion that kindergarten schools or classes should be thoroughly taken up by the Education Department. That the constitution of the N.Z.E.I. bo altered in order to admit as members all persons engaged in the teaching profession.—(North Canterbury.) 'That the institute strongly protests ngainst the holding of school concerts as being detrimental to the scholastic _ progress of the pupils, and is of opinion that sufficient funds should bo provided by the Government to meet all the regular expenses of school committees. — (Southland.) That the proposed demilitarisation of the school cadets is undesirable.—(Southland.) \ That the publication of inspectors .reports, which are critical and confidential reports to boards and committees, be made illegal.—(Wonganui.) That in the opinion, of this institute the time is rim? for the abolition of the system by which the payment of teachers is calculated on average attendance, and for the substitution of a more equitable system.—(Wellington.) That the N.Z.E.I. make it a matter of first consequence to urge upon the Government the need of raising teachers' salaries so as to bring them at any rate up to n level of salaries in other public Departments, and for the purpose -it take into consideration the evidence laid l>eforp the recent Education Commission by the Wellington District Institut'j.—OYcllineton.) . This institute is strongly of opinion that the time has come when a very material increase should be 1 made in teachers' salaries.—(Waiifranui).

That in suits of the recent increase in falnri(s, N.Z.E.T. brings under the notice of Parliament the present inadequate payment of teachers, pupil-teachers. _ and students in training colleges—(North Canterbury.)

That with a view fo the bptfer coordinating and developing of all departments of education in the Dominion, the time h.v> arrived for the appointment of a. council of education—(Otago.) •'