SCHOOLMASTERS' ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 4248, 7 October 1876, Page 2

SCHOOLMASTERS' ASSOCIATION.

The quarterly meeting of the Schoolmasters' Association was held at the Normal School this morning; present—Messrs Montgomery (President), M'Lauchlan, Park, M'Kay, G. Boid, Maicolm Peattie, Wright,, Wilson, Stewart, Scott, Bilzille, Fitzgorald, Norrie, Russell, J. Eeid, and D. White (Secretary). THE SCHOOLMASTERS' JOURNAL. The Chairman said the lost meeting had discussed the lettor of Mr Young, of Wellington, with reference to the proposition to start a news-pap-'i- in that Provinco in thu interests of school teachers. He believed the decision arrived at was, that if the paper proved worthy of support the Otago teichers would probably assist it, but that they would not promise assistance beforehand. The Sec exaet read the letter from Mr Young. stating that the services it a competent editor had be. n secured, and that he woul* be glad to receive a reply from the Association. After a little discussion, a decision was reserved. 4HIION. The Skcrbtart read a letter from Mr H. P. Hill, hon. sec. to the Canterbury Ceitificated Teachers Association, in reply to the resolution arrived at by the Otago Association.. The letter stated that it would appear there had been some misunderstandiug as to the action of the Canterbury and Wellington Associations. A delegate from Otago had. when on a visit to the North, stated that he had no doubt his association wouid agree to any general ruloa come to as to the preliminaries for union. On the strength of th;s the writer himself proposed that the several associations throughout the Colony form themselves into the " N.Z. Union of Certificated Teachers." Arrangements were then made for holding the first conference at Wellington in January next, and the officers of the various associations were appointed .to draw up rules to be submitted at the conference for approval. The Otago Association did not seem to think a Union either workableor necessary, hut they had only to look to the National Union of Teachers in the old country, which numbered 18,000 members, to see that individual associations might be independent and still '. ••■>:;] Iv..- or the common good. The purposes and objects of union were (I) to promote the interosts of teachers; (2) to take joint action should a teacher be unfairly dealt with by School or Educate ion Boards ; (3) to promote higher education in schools. The le tcr concluded with a request that the Otago Association would intimate if it would refuse to send delegates to the Conference. The Chairman said no member of the Otago Association had ever been North as a delegate. Some teacher may have been paying a visit to Christchurch, but he was not instructed to rep'esent the Association. As this letter threw more light on the question of union than the previous communication it might be well to appoint a committee to consider it. A member said at their last meeting they did not docide absolutely against union, but simply objected to going into the union in a position subordinate to trip other Associations. The letter was referred to the committee already acting in the question. ELECTION OP OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of officers fer the ensuing year resulted as follows : President, Mi- Norrie; secretary, Mr D. White; treasurer, Mr Park; ibrarian, Mr Lindsay. A special vote of thanks was passed to the secretary for past services. FUTURE PAPERS. The following members were elected by ballot to read papers during the ensuing year.—(l) Mr Wright j (3) Mr Peattie; (3) Mr J. B. P.rk; (4) Mr M'Parian*; (s)Mrßtottj (6) Mr Lindsay; (7) Mr Stewart; (8) Mr M'Kay. KJ REPEAL OF RULES. Mr Pi zgeeald crave a notioe of motion for next quarterly for the repeal of rules of the Association, with a view of raising a discussion as to tho future conduct of the institution. He intimated thiit Mr Milne would then road a papor on the past o.uil present of the Association.