WOMEN TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 213, 28 May 1918, Page 2

WOMEN TEACHERS

,' ANNUAL MEETING- OF THE ASSO--1 ■ CIATION. . The annual meeting of the Wellington • Women Teachers' Association was held > in the Education Board building last evening. Miss Coad, M.A. (president), i occupied tho chair. •The report presented by the lion, sec- ) rotary. (Miss Neuinan) staled' that the ; association had completed the seventeenth year of its existonce. In spite of the fact that their thoughts and energies had i been greatly occupied by the war, the I past yenr had been a most successful . one. Tho meetings had been well at-. , tended, and the association seemed to be nearer the achievement of one of its aims—that of bringing the teachers Into ■ closer touch with each other. : A'circular had been sent out to all Wellington wo- ■ men teachers setting out the aims of tho association and a programme of subjects to be discussed at the monthly meetings. Tho programme had been adhered to, and proved most effeotivo in maintaining interest in the meetings. Whenever possible outside speakers had been invited to open tho discussions. The association had been fortunate in securing the help of tho following:-Miß6 Rowloy and Miss Hunt, who spoke on the closer co- ■ relation of primary and secondary Behool work; Miss Homes on Montessori methods as npplied to New Zealand infant schools, and Mr. Caughley on "The School and the Child." At the close of the discussion on Montessori methods, the jollowuig resolution had been carriedThat steps be taken to carry out the scheme for sending selected teachers to Sydney and the United-States to study Montessori methods." Two meetings had been held in the interests of the educational campaign arranged by the N.Z/E.I. At the first Miss Homes and Mr. Foster fP, oko . on staffing and school buildings, ine following motion had been forwarded to the Minister: "That the Government he urged to take immediate steps (1) to improve tho unsatisfactory conditions existing in our schools, and (2) to secure an adequate supply of teachers nnd thus reduce the numbers in lar«e and overcrowded classes." At the second, meeting, which was open to the public. Professor Hunter delivered an interesting address entitled "Our Faith in Education." Tho association had been affiliated, this year with tho Workers' iiducational Association and with the Women's National Council. The report and balance-sheet were ~T h4 £l k" r inS letter from tho Hon. T. M. WUlord was received by the Drosi dent < Mis 9 Coad) in reply; tS om ffi luid be««i tunvjidod containing a resolution sent ham tho ussociat.on:— "I have Sft T^ s \^ 0 mei P t of y°™ letter ot the 10th nut. in reference to raids bv the police of alleged houses of ill-fame In reply I have to inform you that I have noted the resolution passed bv your association that the names of all persons concerned be published only after convictions have been recorded, and shall be glad to have your communication placed on record for consideration " I J.JIO following officers were appointedI KS • Mlss , £ oad; Miss Williams, Miss Dowdeswell; secret toy, Miss Noumau; treasurer, Miss Cook; committee, Misses Bird, Briirht Morgan, Lea and Parkes. ' i A.resolution passed at| the meeting was to tho effect that a sub-cdminittee be set up to obtain information from those education boards who have instituted a system of an interchange of teachers with America for the furtherance of Montessori methods in New Zealand. Miss Dowdeswell and Miss Aitchcson wero appointed a sub-cominittee fortius purpose, Miss Parkes moved that the incoming committee be instructed to carefully considor the War Regulations as they affected education and report upon tho effect they have on teachers in the service The motion was carried.

Votes of thanks to Harrington's (Ltd.) for tho loan of lighting apparatus, Mr. Malcolm (of To Aro School) for auditing tho balance-shoot and for tho loan of a room, to tho Education Board for the loan of room for their meetings, to tho president, secretary, and treasurer of tho association, and to tho Press for their support woro passed.

A motion of deep sympathy with Mr Webb, headmaster of tho Normal School,' in tho loss of his son on active service' wns passed. '