EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1974, 9 January 1907, Page 1

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS. Tho Educational Institute continued its sitting at Christchurch. On All'. Gibbs’ motion, “That as the best export opinion in educational matters is opposed to competitive examinations, especially for children, it is therefore desirable that all scholarship examinations for jmpils attending primary schools be .abolished.” - Air. U. D. Hardy moved an amendment, as follows:—“That the Institute desires to enter an emphatic pro- . test against the all too apparent notion that success in examinations is (

ill itself an end, and not a means, to higher ends; it ' discountenances all such methods of coaching or preparation for competitive examinations, as they fail to pay regard to tho moral and physical as well as the mental well-being of the children, and tho Institute is of opinion that the number of competitive examinations should bo reduced.” The amendment was carried by 3-1 to 13 as a substantive motion.

The following motion was adopted: —“That to render the system of primary education a national one, it is necessary that the inspectors should be under tho direct control of tho Education Department.” The following motions were also carried : —“That the inspectorate should be centralised.” “That the Minister for Education bo again asked to make the conditions referring to the conveyance of children more elastic than those now in force, and that the Executive be re-

quested to conduct a campaign with the object of educating public opinion on the subject.” “That tho attention of the Education Department he drawn to the need of a more rigid observance of that regulation which directs i lispectors to devote tho major portion of their time at the annual visit to investigating the character of the teaching, and tlie degree of intelligence attained by tlie pupils, rather than in measuring tho quantity of knowledge possessed.”

“That the Institute is strongly in favour of a colonial system of promotion of teachers.”

“That the Institute urge upon the Minister for Education the impossibility of formulating a suitable scheme for the payment of teachers while the teachers’ salaries depend upon, anil are influenced by, the average attendance, and that the Minister bo requested to amend the scale

of salaries for teachers, so that no certificated teacher in sole charge of a school receive a salary lower than £llO per annum.” The following oflicers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. J. Aitken (Wanganui); treasurer, Air. T. Hughes (Christchurch); secretary, Air. W. Foster (Wellington); members of the Executive, Alessrs. G. W. Alurray and J. F. Roley (North Island); Al. J. Caughley (Wellington education district), Air. J. li. Harkness (South Island); trusteo, Air. C. Watson.

It was resolved to request the Alinister for Education to place a sum on tho Estimates to provide teachers’ dwellings with tho ordinary conveniences of life, and to ask the Govern! ment to provide for the regular in■spcction of school children by medical men and dentists; to ask the AJinister to refuse tho erection of a new school unless a salary of at least £llO per annum be granted.