TEACHERS' CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 80, 28 December 1917, Page 3

TEACHERS' CONGRESS

ANNUAL MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION Tho nnmial mooting of delegates from tlio district branches of tho New Zealand Educational Institute will be hold in Wellington noxt month, whenanum,ber of questions' relative to education and tho status and condition of tho teachers will' be discussed. Following aro soiuo of tho subjects for discussion :— Education Act. That tho presunt method of electing education boards is unsatisfactory.— (North Canterbury). That tho N.Z.J!.), should endeavour to impress upon the general public and tho National Government tho great importauco of providing improved educational facilities, and that the Government bo urged during 1918 to provido adequate funds for:—(1) School buildings; (2) playgrounds; (3) a. suflieiont number of inspectors.to enable- the.work of advising and assisting teacliers to bo satisfactorily carried out; (4) medical inspection; (5) froo dental treatment for children of the public schools; (6) technical school buildings; (7) compulsory continuation classes; (8) conveyance of children to central schools; ''(9) ■ additional staffing.—(Wellington.) That in all matters dealt with by the Public Service Superannuation Act, teachers ho placed on tho same footing as other Government services.—(South Canterbury.)

That teachers who rejoined the service after 1908 bo placed on tho samo footing as regards superannuation as woro University wofessors in 1912.— (South Canterbury.) That the Dominion should be divided into four promotion ureas.—(Auckland.) That tho Education Department he urged to amend tho regulations re travelling, in the directiou of providing for payment for travelling-of children who ride to school.—(Auckland.) That tho attention of the Minister bo drawn to the fact that our present machinery docs not onsiiro tho satis-, factory carrying out of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act, in that thore is considerable leakage of children under fourteen years of ago who fail to attend school.—(North Canterbury.) ' That when tho children of a school are attending technical schools for in? struction in handwork the compulsory attendance clauses of the Act should apply.—(North Canterbury.) That in view of tho importance of education as a leading factor in raising the level of national efficiency and character,- and the consequent necessity of securing, in .the first instance, tho best women and men for the teaching service,- it'is imperative that steps be taken beforehand to establish for teachers a greatly improved scalo of remuneration to come into operation immediately after the war.—(Southland.) That the N:Z.E.I. should be Granted the privilege of reviewing the draft of proposed legislation and regulations dealing with education before the promulgation of the same.—(Wellington.) That inspectors make one visit per year, of which dueriotice be given, instead of two, as at- present.—(Mastorton.) . : -,' .' Grading of Teachers. - That allotting equal quota marks for each group irrespective of the number of teachers in that group is inequitable.—(Auckland.) ••

That the principle of-the inclusion of quota marks in the grading of teachers bo disapproved of.—(Wauganui.) That no grading scheme, is satisfactory which allows of a teacher passing from grade to grade by merely rising with the growth of a school.—(Hawke's .Bay.) ' That no classification for purposes of promotion and determining salary is satisfactory unless based on efficiency and service only.—(Hawke's Bay.) That the constitution of the Appeal Board be considered. —(Auckland.)

That it is au improper arrangement that the senior inspector of the disj trict shoukHbe a member of the Grading of Teacher's Appeal Court, seeing that it is his grading that is being appealed' against.—(Waugan'ui.) That the Department be asked to institute a Dominion , grading scheme and seals of ealaries for all woodwork and domestic science instructors employed in primary school teaching;—(N. Canterbury.)

That inasmuch as all study makes for efficiency, and as all teaclieiß must be students, and as it is wrong-to restrict a teacher's course of study to .an academic or any other course, the awarding of what amount to extra efficiency, marks for certificates based on attainment shown in" such restricted courses—academic or otherwise—is inequitable, and therefore teachers' certificates should be recognised as of uniform value in the.: grading of teachers, except that iu the case of appointments to secondary schools or district high schools, provision should be made- for tho adequate recognition of such further prescribed attainments as inhall have a direct bearing upon the particular secondary work- undertaken m each such school.—(Auckland.) That first .assistants in school's of grades 5, 6, and 7 be allowed a maximum of 10 marks for organisation — (Taranaki.) • " That a first assistant in Grade 7 school who has spent at least five years as a headmaster of Grade 3 school should be eligible for 15 marks for organisation.—(Hawke's Bay.) Teaching, Staff and Inspectors, That the Department take those steps to recruit the male teaching service demanded by its depletion by enlistment. —(Mastorton.)

That in the opinion of this institute it is imperatively necessary that pupil teachers as -,well as probationers should not count upon the staff .—(Auckland.) 'That the Department be asked as soon as possible to substitute-assistants for pupil twichors.—(Taranaki.) • I That as education is of vital importance to the life and prosperity of any community, and as it is already impossible for education boards to fill vacancies with qualified teachers, this institute is of the opinion that the Education Department should take wme steps towards the exemption of a due proportion of male teachers from military service, as is being done by other official bodies, with a view to the maintenance of efficiency.—(Masterton.; That the number of inspectorates he considerably increased; that some of the , inspectors bo women, and that no further appointments of unqualified teachers be made.—(Masfcerton.; Schools and Syllabus, That the N.Z.E.I. is of opinion that the proposal to terminate tho primary school course at tho' twelfth year of the pupil's lifo is contrary to the best interests of the youth and therefore of the people of tho Dominion.—(Wellington.) That the New Zealand Educational Institute is opposed to any proposal to reduce the standard of attainment oF primary school pupils as a qualification" for admission to a secondary or technical school.—(North Canterbury.) That in any system of compulsory education after tho ago of fourteen years it is important to emphasise training for guod citizenship, as woll as vocational training.—(Wellington.) That this institute considers that, in the best interests of tho womanhood of this country, training in home science should be continued after the 82e of fourteen), and recommends that

compulsory continuation clnssea bo held in daylight hours.—(Auckland.) That for tho moral and physical welfare of tlio Dominion, it is ussontial that qualified instructors bo appointed to give instruction in sex physiology in our schools.—(Southland.) That tho marks allotted for the various subjects in all recorded examinations of tho standard classes (including tho proficiency examination) should bo assessed on a uniform Scale, tho maximum marks for tho respective subjects in such scale to be approximately in tho same proportion as at present obtains in the proficiency examination, and to bo sufficiently high to enable a just assessment of comparative merit among the pupils to bo mado.—(Southland.) That in tho opinion of this institute a separate branch for tho domestic scienco branch, of technical education should bo set up, directly under tho direction «nd supervision of a fully qualified woman.—(Auckland.) That tho Education Department he asked to consider tho best ways and means of improving tho teaching of singing in our schools, and to devise bottor methods' of training teachers to give instruction in this important subject.—(Auckland.) That the Education Department be requested to consider the _ question of providing for tlio extension of tho Buffalo system of libraries to schools in country districts.—(Auckland.) That in the interests of national efficiency it is urgently necessary that better provision be made for the education of children of retarded mental development.—(North Canterbury.) That the Standard VI proficiency examination should not bo held earlier than December.—(Hawke's Bay.) That as a reading testing readings be unseen.—(Masterton.) That tho institution of the school work-book is a retrograde step, as it takes the teacher away from his real business, which is to teach.—(Grey.)

After-War Eduoatlon. That tho N.Z.E.I. sot up a committee to consider after-war education and report upon the necessary amendments to secure true efficiency in national education. —(Manawatu.) That N.Z.E.I. set aside £500 as a publicity fund, and that the executive for 1918 secure the co-operation of other bodies connected with education for the purpose of agitating for educational reform.—(Masterton.) That this institute views with .grave concern the inimoral influence of many of tho picture films now shown in New Zealand, and in the interests of the young urges tho Government to set up, a more vigorous censorship over films which glorify criftie and the animal passions.—(Hawko's Bay.) J ft'hat the compulsory introduction throughout the Dominion of the decimal system—both in money and weight measures—is desirable.—(Manawatu.)

That the time has arrived when the teachers of New Zealand should form a union in order to place them upon an equality with other organisations.— (Manawatu.) That in tho establishment of new schools in country districts the minimum area of land,to be acquired 6hnll bo ten acres, and a portion of this sufficient to provide for tho keeping of a cow and a horse be set aside for tho teacher's use.—(Auckland.) That country inspectors he provided with cars.—(Masterton.) That each inspector away from the board office' be provided with a clerk.-* (Masterton.) , That the annual meeting of the N.Z. E.I. he devoted to thorough discussion of some ono or two matters of importance, instead of the consideration of some scores of insignificant remits.— (Manawatu.)

That the Education Department be asked to issue special certificates to those engaged in teaching agriculture and rural science, and opportunity be given for obtaining them.—(Auckland.) That candidates forD or,C certificates be granted a criticism of their papers if they so desire, on payment of a sum to defray the cost of such criticism.— (Ashley.} That the Education Department be requested to deduct subscriptions of institute members from their salary and pay same to treasurers of tho various branches.—(Manawatii.)' On Active Service. That teachers on active service should receive from tho Education Department sufficient to bring their pay to not less than 1J (five-fourths) their salary as teachers.—(Horbwhenua.) That it be imperative that the salaries of teachers be raised immediately, ■in order to keep pace with the cost of living.—(Horowhenua.) ' That the attention of the Government be called to the fact that the education service is being starved beyond what is even justifiable under war conditions.—(Horowhenua.) That if military, service boards continue the policy of. exempting Marist Brothers from military service, it is incumbent upon the Government in tho interests of State education to extend exemption to State school teachers.—(Horowhenua.) ■ - That, a teacher being already a mem-ber-of--the N.Z.E.I, becomes automatically a member of the institute in the district in which the teacher works on January 1 of any year, and is liable for dues to the said institute, and 3io other.—(Horowhenua.) That in schools below Grade VI head teachers shall not be required to instruct pupil teachers or. probationers in the various branches of drawing and in hygiene, and the «aid pupil teachers and probationers shall be admitted to the Training College provided that they pass in all, or all but one, of sncii other subjects as are necessary to constitute a pass in Class D.—(Otago.). Nominations of Officers. Tho following nominations have been received for. office on the executive of tho New Zealand body:— President: Mr. A. N. Burns, M.A., nominated by Auckland, Wellington, Otago. Vicc-President: Mr. C. K. Mnnro, nominated by Auckland, Wellington) Mr. W. Phillipps, nominated by Otago. Secretary: Mr. H. A. Parkinson, M.A., nominated by Auc.klf.nd, Tara* naki, AVellington, North Canterbury, Otago. Treasurer: Mr. J. E. Purchase, M.A., nominated by AVellington, North Canterbury. Non-official Members of the Executive:—North Island: Mr. D. AV. Low, nominated by Manawatu; Mr. AV. H. Newton, nominated by Auckland, AVellington. AVellington Metropolitan Area; Miss N, E. Coad, M,A., nominated by AVellington. South Island: Mr. P. T. Evans, nominated by North Canterbury; Mr. H. R. Fisher, nominated by Marlborough.