N.Z. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 14 July 1915, Page 2

N.Z. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE • ' The thirty-second annual meeting oS the New Zealand Educational instituto was hold in the Masonic Hall last evening. Before beginning tho ordinary "business of the meeting the members present, at the instance of the president (Mr. A. Urskine), fang the' National Anthem. The president said that they had all been deeply interested in the war and tho wnve of patriotism which had passed over the Dominion was one they ■ were all proud of. They were'also proud of tha part tlio young men of the Dominion were playing in the war. ■ Without further elaboration he moved the following resolution:— ■ .

'That this conferenec of teachers representing the,primary schools of the Do-, minion, place, on record its'deep gratification at the splendid responso made by New Zcalenders to the Empire call in the present great crisis and its intense pride in their glorious achievements at the (Dardanelles. It further desires to tender its sincere sympathy to the relatives of those who have so nobly laid down their lives on behalf of King and country."

The first speaker (Mr. J. P. Luke) congratulated Mr. G. Hogben for the ivork ho had done for education in New Zealand, and on the honour, recently conferred upon him. He was also glad to ■meet Dr. Anderson, Director of Education, and was pleased to know that tho Hon., Mr. Aitken had been made a member of tho General Council.' He looked upon Mr. Aitken as one of the pillars of education in Wellington, In inferring to the remits/he expressed himself as ■surprised to 6ee that the teachers should still, be paid according to attendance. It was a system that should not he allowed to continue another week if they could help it. (Applause.) Dr. Anderson, LL.D., said he might say something about matters included in the remits if ho could bo assured that it would not commit him as Director, of Education. It was the teacher,' he said, upon whom the .whole of .the education system depended. The regulations for tho; government of the schools mattered very little indeed if you had the right teachers. In TefeiTing'to a remit dealing with the, constitution of the University*. Senate, P r r, Anderson eulogised the work done by his predecessor in office,. Mr. Hogben, and he regretted that (he had not been reappointed ti} ia seat on the Senate, but he hoped that his' Bervices would be available in the cause of University education and management. He'stressed the importance of agricultural education,' but, took it as axiomatic that agriculture could-not be taught in the .'primary schools, and at another conference now being held in Wellington they were trying to evolve some method by-which agri- : culture could be taught the voung people. At the same time much could ho done in, that direction by fostering nature _ 6tudy in the schools. Members should 'not-expect too much from the Council of Education. His action so far had been more in tho direction of submitting to recess,, committees important matters affecting primary and secondary schools and the University. Whatever •system of: salaries was desired he' was afraid that, it must be based on average attendance. • He did not supposo that anyone would agree that any man who had attained to a_ salary of 6ay .£3OO a J ear could be retained at a school where there were only a few children. Where you had,a system of freo transference of teachcrs the. services of the man .whose services were really valuable must b© renamed where they could be made avail- '? I e S? many as possible. •Ho regrettea that so much room was occupied on tlio ordor paper bv remits dealing with salaries. Thero was a tendency, perhaps a natural one, to make the material position of each class of teacher a subject of greater movement than anything else, and he quoted npires to show how. the lot of teachers n? 1r ,nad been improved. ... ; The Hon. J. G.'W. Aitken, M.L.Ci, emphasised the 1 tremendous importance oi the work of • the teachers, who were in a very ,large measure responsible for the character .of;the next generation. Teach- . ers should never forget .tfiat they, are the heroes, and .heroines of. their scholars, iney took; for granted'that teachers coiild not jnake a- .mistake, and the, teachers' views, were.;the childrens' views, and if •the teachers' ideals were high those of the children would be high. .Teachers nvnst not think that they are machines Imng out'other machines, but should remember that they are living 6ouls in charge of the living souls of children. Mr. Aitken Invited the members to visit the new Britomart Street School and tho new Training College, which he' hoped would be opened in a fortnight. (Applause.) , , Mr. T. E.' Fleming, Chief Inspector in Wellington, said 'that the work of tho institute was' ,on the Education Act. There was 110 doubt that tho teachers of New Zealand were helping to mould tho character of the nation. On behalf of tho teachers of: Wellington he gave a warjn welcome to members. Mr. W. V. Newton (Thames) returned thanks on behalf of the conference for the warm welcome that had been accorded them..', Mr; T. U. Wells (Auckland) was appointed chairman of committees, and Mr. G. H; Hume (of Christchurch) was appointed .auditor to the institute.