Teacher's Institute

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1913, Page 2

Teacher's Institute

MULE TEACHING IN SCHOOLS

CONDEMNED

The Manawatu Branch" of the Wellington District Institute of Public School Teachers held its annual meeting in the Schoolroom, Otaki, on Saturday. There were present Miss Smith, and Messrs W. B. Smith (chair). G. H. Kirk (secretary), McHain. Vanghan, Bennett, Duncan, and Harding:

Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President Mr W. B. Smith (re-elected); secretary, Mr G. H. Kirk (re-elected); executive, Messrs Smith, Kirk, and Mcßain.

The report and balance-sheet showed a credit of £2 10s 6d, and the report stated that satisfactory progress had been made "by the branch during the past twelvemonth.

A letter was received from Mr Royd Garlick, director, of physical education, accepting the institute's invitation to address a. meeting of teachers at Levin. He suggested the 12th July as a suitable date. The institute agreed to this suggestion, and it was decided to ask the Education Board to issue free railway tickets to teachers desirous of attending the lecture.

A discussion took place on The Bible in Schools- question, nearly every member present giving his opinion on the subject. Finally a resolution was passed, unanimously, condemning the principle of the- introduction of the Bible or of Biblo matter into the puhlic schools—no matter whether such introduction was on the lines of the Biblo in Schools League or in any other form. The feeling of the meeting was expressed that while religious instruction was desirable the publio school was not the place in which to give it. One speaker pointed out that for very many years past Ministers of Religion had had the right (subject to the approval of the school committees) of giving religious instruction after school hours, and this light was scarcely ever availed of.