EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 4 January 1900, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

CONFERENCE OF TEACHERS' INBTITUTEB. [U3ITID PBIBB 48800IATION.1 Timaru, January 2. The Council of the Educational Institute met here to-day. The Minister for Education attended and gave an address, the ohief point being a promise to introduce a Bill to provide for a colonial soale of staffs and of salaries. For this a speoial resolution of thanks was passed to the Minister. Mr Walker promised to submit the proposal to the Institute, the Board and others concerned before Parliament meets. With regard to the complaints that the syllabus was overloaded, he recommended waiting a year at least before attempting to alter it, m order to see the effeot of the new regulation re freedom of classification. This seemed to be generally approved. The counoil affirmed the need foe better provision being made for train* ing teachers ; protested against the praotice of some boards of dismissing certificated pupil teaohers and taking on new candidates; affirmed the prinoiple that the number of pupil teaohers should not exceed one to five certificated teachers ; declined by 19 to 15 to approve a system of bonuses for length of service. January 8. The Eduoation Counoil to-dc.v reBolved that any proposal for a colonial scale of staff salaries should be submitted to the branches of the Institute before adoption ; protested against the practice of some Boards m favouring local teachers m making appointments ; affirmed that salaries should not suffer through epidemics reducing the average attendance. It was also resolved that, pending the introduction of a colonial scale, the minimum capitation should be £4 ; that Inspectors should be placed under central oontrol and be periodically transfeired ; that at the departmental examinations -the names of candidates should not be known to the Inspectors, and that names of examiners should be put on the examination papers. A Wellington remit relating to | qualification k for class A was lost. It was resolved that the University Senate be asked to grant diplomas m pedagogy, and notice be given «. to move that the Victoria College Governors be asked to establish a chair of pedagogy ; that the teachers of a district should be empowered to elect one member of the Eduoation Board, their representative not to be a teacher m the Board's employ. A number of remits dealing with the syllabas were dropped m view of the new regulations. It was resolved that th« use of a Historical Reader be sufficient for teaching m that subject, and that New Zealand History should be included ; that the Department issue instructions to Inspectors, as is done m England. A Committee was appointed to draw up a scheme for retiring allowances. During the afternoon the Chairman of the South Canterbury and Otago Education Boards briefly addressed the meeting. The Counoil resumes to-morrow.