TEACHERS' INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2486, 12 June 1915, Page 14

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE

PATRIOTIC RESOLVE not to embarrass government. A meeting of the Wellington District leachors' Institute was held last night, the • president (Mr. J. B. Hopkirk) being in the chair. There wero about twenty-five members present. A '°tter was received from the Now Zealand Public Service Association .soliciting the support of the institute ™ r the candidature of Miss Palmer in the Queen Carnival contest. On account of the fact that members of the institute might already bo pledged in different directions, it was resolved to take no action. Censorship of Films. The 'Auckland Technical Teachers' Association forwarded the following resolution, recently passed by, that body::—''That the association expresses its dissatisfaction with the censorship of films shown at the kinotheatres in Now Zealand, to wnich children are admitted without restriction, and urges that children under fifteen be admitted only to specially-censored performances." The association asked if the institute would support a movement to draw tho attention of the authorities to tho matter. On the motion of Mr. J. C. Webb, seconded by Mr. A. N. Burns, it was decided to strongly support the movement intended by the Auckland Association, and to leave the matter in the bands of the Management Cohimittee to take action at tlie right time. The National crisis. Mr. J. Hutton moved' 'That, considering that the Education Act marked an advance in education involving additional expenditure of public money, and that tho Empire is at the present time engaged in the greatest war in its history, this District Institute is of opinion that the New Zealand Educational Institute, while it may affirm the desirability of certain reforms, should not, while the war continues, press for amendments in the Act entailing further expenditure." In speaking to the motion, Mr. Hutton contended that, for patriotic reasons, the institute should take no action which might give the public the impression that the teachers were doing something to emban-ass tho Government. The chairman was about to declare the motion "lapsed for want of a. seconder" when Mr.' B. T. Blake announced that he would second it pro forma. Mr. R. J. Pope opposed the motion on behalf of tho teachers of 3B grade, many of whom had written to Him oil the subject. Mr. N. A. Foden also opposed tho motion, which he characterised as one pf principle against expediency. The passing of the motion would "probably shelve necessary reforms indefinitely. Mr. W. W. Bowntree. :ho secretary of the institute, disapproved of the motion, but did not favour any strong agitation during the present crisis. , , Miss .Myers considered that they should all learn from the present great struggle tho strength that comes from greater organisation and greater concentration. They _ should not lose sight of the necessity of seeking some means by which they could make their teachers more efficient and the service aJso, and thus produce better citizens. Mt. A. Erskine did not think it was' politic at tho present time to movo for further increases in salary. In his opinion it was not advisable to take any action in that direction for at least twelve months. He would support the motion. Mr. A. N. Burns also supported the motion. Ho thought, however, that certain matters should be placed before the Government in order that they might be kept in view. After Mr. Hutton had replied, tho resolution was put to the meeting and declared carried. "Noes" appeared to predominate, but no division was called for.