EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2193, 18 May 1908, Page 1

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

ANNUAL MEETING

'Thu annual meeting of the ilawko’ti Liny ilfiducatibniil Institute was hold in this Gisborne High .School on Saturday. Mr. I<'. J. If owloy presided, and there was 'a good nttoiulantoo of touchers from country schools and Napier. Tho Chairman in the course of hi;, opening remarks, regretted that there was not a larger attendance, and urged that tho management committee should make an elfort to stir lip interest in matters educational.

Groutings wore received from M tt. • Clarkson, director of biro Tcehni- , cal School, Napier, and from the Wanganui District Institute. The secretary, Mr Holme's, tendered an apology from a number of members of the .Institute from the southern port Lou . . the district, the absence of whom, he said, could not be altogether, avoided when the ,annual meting was hold in Gisborne, owing to the expense and time necessary in travelling to Gisborne. flo presented the following annum report and balance sheet:— “We have the honor, on behalf of the Executive Committee, to submit the annual report and statement of accounts of the Hawke’s Bay Branch 1 'of the’N.Z:*-Education Institute 1 ' for the year 1907-8. As you are aware, the present meeting is intended to take the place of the annual meeting in July, and though somewhat irregular, the various sub-branches have recognised such a change necessary owing to the arrangement of the school year and holidays. We are pleased to report a steady increase m membership. Almost every teach or

or in Gisborne and Dniinevirke centre is n member, and an effort'.is ‘being made to affiliate all teachers who are non-members throughout the education district. Should the ofl'ort be successful, the total of 170 can be reached in a short time. Compared with other districts in 'New Zealand, the percentage df teachers who are members is pretty high. The accounts show a credit balance of £23 Os od, with outstanding liabilities of about £7 10s, owing for the Journal up to 30th June. Owing to Saturday classes, sports, and cadets, it is very difficult getting good meetings of the various sub-branches. Still, if anything of importance is under consideration, a goodly number put in an appearance. The only item of interest from a professional point of view that came under the notice of the Institute during the past year was the promotion scheme. At the annual meeting in Auckland the various schemes put forth were discussed at great length, and that of the promotion committee of the Auckland branch was almost entirely agreed to. However, before any law is passed opportunity will be given to institutes and individuals to throw what light they can on the matter. Among the questions to be discussed by you .is that of truancy and ‘the examination of teachorsMii sewing. Truancy is practically ignored in our education district, and hence, with our deservedly boasted climate, is lower (Sl,if), than in Westland (89.3), Otago (89.7), or Southland (87.3).' Not only are numbers of children allowed to grow up without any education and school discipline, but the progress of. regular attenders in interfered with, the staffing is lowered, ami the emoluments of teachers and committees, lessened. The last sowing examinat'o is considered •unreasonable, not so much on account of the difJicußy of the questions as the amount of work, demanded within the time. The re-< latioii between the Board and the' teachers continue very satisfactory.No cases under the Appeal Act have’ yet taken place in this district." fbo report was briefly discussed, and on the motion of the Chairman was adopted. ft was decided, on the motion of Mr Holmes, to draft a remit to amend the constitution so that the annual meeting could be held during the first term holidays. The Chairman introduced the necessity of more attention being devo-< ted to formal grammar, and moved that it be a remit to the various •branches of the Institute with a view to consideration at the annual meeting of the Institute at Dunedin that in the drawing up of examination papers set by the Department more attention should be given to formal grammar.' After some discussion the motion was agreed to. The secretary read the following communication respecting the School Journal in regard to its use as a book in place of an ordinary reader, from ■Mr Hill, .Chief , Inspector of Schools for Hawke’s Bay: “The regulations require the use of two class readers, and tile question is whether the Journal should supply the place of one of them. The Canterbury Board does not approve of the Journal, but lor what reason I cannot say. It certainly will not do for the preparaiton of history, geography, nature study, but these aspects of knowledge may receive more attention -'n a short time. As an ordinary reader, I see little or no objection, to it, but as a book of information under the Departmental regulations it will be necessary, for teachers to continue the use of special text books, as the requirements cannot be prepared otherwise.” Previous to the election of officers a discussion took place as to whether the proceedings would be valid, and the chairman gave his ruling in the affirmative. Messrs Colo and Holmes were nominated for the position of secretary. Air Cole objected to a postal ballot as unfair to local members, but ultimately it was decided to issue ballot papers lo all members of the Institute, returnable by June 15. Messrs Leslie and Kinder were appointed scrutineers. The following officers were elected unopposed : —President, Mr I' 1 . J. Rowley; vice-presidents, Messrs L. F. Poglar and G. K. .Sinclair; Committee of management, Messrs AVoodward, Marshall. Harvey, McLennan, Martin, and Dodds. h