EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Evening Star, Issue 20132, 23 March 1929, Page 8

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

ANNUAL MEETING At the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the Educational Institute yesterday the following matters were dealt witli : SPECIALIST TEACH LBS. Mr L. F. tie Berry moved— 1 “ That provision be made for one specialist teacher on the staff of every grade ot school.” Tho mover said the motion was asking that there should be at least one specialist teacher in every large school. It was a well-known fact that education was developing along such lines as to make it necessary lor everyone to be more or less a specialist in something He did not want any restricted or particular type of poison. Ho believed they were working on the linos ot modern development and using a teacher’s ability L» the best advantage and giving the children tho best they could. The motion met with a good deal of opposition, and when if; was put to tho meeting it was lost, 71 voting for it and S 3 against it. CUT .IN SALARIES. On the motion ot Mr Hepburn it was decided that the New Zealand Educational Institute be recommended to take such steps as may be deemed advisable to secure the restoration of the cut in teachers’ salaries. NORMAL SCHOOL TKACH EPS. Mr Hanna moved —“That in order to attract and retain the services of those best qualified to co-opcralc in the training of students, the department be recommended to restore tho quota of normal school teachers to tho same basis as before the 1927 normal school regulations, and to place associated normal school teachers on tho same basis.” The motion was carried. THE NEW SYLLABUS. Mr Slater moved —“ That the ne\v syllabus will not be effective until (a)' all primary and post-primary teachers in a district are under one committee of control : (b) until there is a_ scheme of promotion and salaries which permits of ready transfer from one school to another.” After some discussion the remit was divided into two parts, and Section A was adopted, while Section B was lost. DEFECT!VE CHILDREN. On the motion of Miss M/Elrca, tho following remit was agreed to:—-“That the Education Department) be asked to adopt the policy of establishing in largo centres special day classes for those children whose names appear on the register ,to tie compiled in accordance with the Mental Deficiency Act, 1928.” Miss M'Elrca also moved —“ Tha t children who arc merely retarded—that) is, dull normals, high grade snb-nor-maks, and non-intellectuals —be taught; in special classes in their own schools.” —The motion was agreed to. MissM'Elrea also moved—“ That, as music is so essential in Hie education of the mental defective, all special classes and all special schools should be provided with a piano and a gramophone. —This was agreed to. Tho following motion by Miss M‘Elroa was also adopted :—“ That the Education Act be amended to provide that, the leaving ago of children attending special schools be raised to sixteen years.” SOCIAL. Li the evening the members held a social gathering in Jay’s Tea Rooms, and spent a very enjoyable time.