SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2869, 6 September 1916, Page 9

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CONFERENCE OF ASSISTANT TEACHERS PROBLEMS DISCUSSED The annual conference of tlie Secondary School Assistants' Association of New Zealand was opened yesterday in tho "Wellington Boys' College. Following were the delegates present: Mr. R. H. Rockel, M.A., president; Mr. F. M. Renner, M.A., secretary; Miss 6, Tollcy, M.A., and Miss Florence J. Patterson, M.A. (Auckland Girls' Grammar School), Miss Annie F. Ironside, MA. (Palmorston North High School), Miss K. M. Grisson (Christchurch Girls' High School), Miss A. Balkam, M.A. (Wellington Girls' College). Messrs. W. Verdi-Jones, J. N. Millard, 8.A., A. C. Gifford, M.A., J. Hall. 8.A.. B.Sc., T. Brodie, 8.A., and \V. F. C. Balham (Wellington College), Mr. H. E. Gilbert Smith (Whangarei High School), Mr. F. H. Campbell (Duncdin High School), and W. H. Uttley, M.A. (Waitaki, Boys' High School). Tho annual report (already published) was adopted. The statement of finance showed a credit balance of £94 55., as compared with a credit of £63 3s. last year. Mr. F. M. Renner was re-elected honorary secretary and treasurer.

President's Address. By way of an opening address, the president read a paper on English literature, and the place it should take in the secondary schools. His central idea was the importance of bringing the pupil into direct contact with the great masterpieces of English literature, and of impressing the pupil with some conception of the greatness and continuity of the literature of the English language. This he. -urged because, as he stated, it was impossible to convey to pupils any real appreciation of English literature by books on books, for there was something in every great masterpiece, -whether of literature or art or music, that defied analysis. The pupil should rather lie allowed to discover books for himself, than be compelled to learn about thorn from other books, imparting sec-ond-hand knowledge about tho good tilings in literature. It was true, ho admitted, that all pupils would not always realise the full • worth of tho hooks they might be induced to read. All that tho teacher could hope to do was to lead reverently the pupils into the great temple of our national literature. .

There wa3 some discussion on the reports of examiners in tho matriculation examinations, and a uumler of resolutions were submitted. Of most importance ivas a discussion on the teaching,of geography. This resulted in the endorsement by the meeting of the following sentence in the report of the examiner in geography last year: "The of teachers of geography.. is directly attributable to the neglect of geography in the University, a neglect severely condemned by visitors to New Zealand, who point out that .our young country is full of problems crying out for investigation of trained geographers." This, it may be meutionecj, was about all there was in tho examiner's paper and comment of which they did approve. Most emphatically they disapproved of the paper he had set, and of his idea as shown therein of what the matriculation standard in geography ought to be.

Evening Classes, Fees, and Sunorannuation. Mr. Renner referredto a very serious grievance of secondary school teachersivho, being temporarily, employed ■ a» teachers of evening classes at technical schools, were required' some timo ago not only to pay superannuation 'on the amount so earned, but also to pay arrears of superannuation to cover those years for which this had not been claimed. He and others pointed out tlio manifest injustice of requiring teachers to pay superannuation on earnings .which they would probably not receivo until the timo of their retirement, awl would therefore not draw retiring allowance in respect of them. Mi'. Rennet' moved the following resolution, which was agreed to:—"That those teachers who are engaged in teaching at eveniug classes at technical schools should ho allowed the option of contributing to the Superannuation Fund, and such contributors should receive one-sixtieth of their evening salary for each year that they do so contribute, over and above their ordinary retiring allowance."

The Salaries Standard. There was some debate 011 the alleged non-observance by certain governing bodies of schools of the implied injunction of tho Department to base their salaries on a subsidy of £12 10s. per year per free place pupil. Tho actual allowance mado by the Government is £13 10s. per year per free place pupil "for salaries and incidentals." Tho object of this increase of the allowance per head made some years ago was to enable better salaries to be paid to secondary school teachcrs. But certain governing bodies have talieii a great deal of the increase under the heading of incidentals. In Auckland, for instance, the board haß set aside annually for building purposes a sum of £3000, which''should have been used for the payment of salaries. It was in the end agreed: "That tho Minister of Education .be. asked to issue regulations limiting the surplus in any one year in the Salaries and _ Incidentals Account of the governing body of any secondary school." Fres-Place Pupils.. Tho following motion was rejected on the casting vote of the chairman, aftor debate:—"That this association emphasises the desirability of still further raising the standard of qualification for junior free places in secondary schools." Tho objection raised to tho motion was not that the present standard was high enough, but that the raising of it would possiblv exclude altogether cirtTdren from small country schools. Tht following resolution on a kindred matter was carried on tlio voices: "That this association urges that tho regulations authorising the discontinuance of both junior and senior free places in the event of unsatisfactory work be more rigidly enforced." School Cadets. Mr. Benner moved: "That this meeting desires to point out to the Defence authorities tlio urgent necessity for properly arming and equipping and officering the Senior Cadet units of secondary schools, which are rightly regarded" as the training schools for future officers." His principal point had reference to the officering of these corps. Tlio disabilities in regard to promotion put upon officers in the Unattached List B, ho said, were sucfi as to drive any good officers out of £»c cadets and into tlio Territorials, where promotion was easy. Other masters spoke with evident irritation of the treatment accorded to the secondary schools both in regard to the promotion of officers and to the supply of equipment and arms. Enlistment of Masters. ./ ,lt was agreed, also, on Mr. ' Rennor's motion: "That this association repudiates tho suggestion f recently made by certain secondary school principals to the Minister of Education that legislation be introduced to pre-

vent secondary school male tcachers from enlisting for active service, but on tlio contrary suggests that every facility be given to enable such teachers to enlist." This motion was not debated.

Amalgamation With Teaohers' Institute. In the afternoon Mr. 'A. E. Erskinc addressed the mooting as a representative of the exccutivo of 'the New Zealand Educational Institute on tho subject of amalgamation of the Secondary Assistants' Association with the N.Z.E.I. This question was dispussed by tho N.Z.E.I. at its annual meeting at Easter, and the executive was empowered to make proposals to the secondary school teachers. The business was all in committee. It was decided, on the motion of Mr. Renner:_ "That this association expresses its willingness to amalgamate with the N.Z.E.1., provided only that these two conditions be both fulfilled, namely that this association Tetam its independence and have adequate representation on the executive of the Now Zealand Educational Institute." It was further resolved, on tho motion of Mr. Rockel, that the executive be given full power to conduct negotiations with the and to agree, finally upon the conditions of amalgamation. Both resolutions were carricd unanimously.

Election ot Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. T. Brodie; vice-president, Miss Grisson (Christchurch) ; executive, Messrs. F. H. Campbell, R.. H. Rockel, A. C. Gifford, and J. H. D. Mahon; honorary auditor, Mr. W. A. Alexander; honorary secretary, Mr. F. M. Renner.