WELLINGTON TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5137, 10 September 1877, Page 3

WELLINGTON TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION.

, The monthly meeting of the Wellington Teachers’ Association was held on Saturday, in the Sydney-street School, according to announcement. Eor various reasons, but owing principally to the inclemency of the weather, the usual meetings of the association have not been held for some time-past. The business transacted was of an important character. Letters were read from kindred associations at Blenheim, Invercargill, &c. A letter from the Secretary of the Education Board, Wellington, enclosing a copy of a letter from Mr. Machliu, of Blenheim, and also one from the Secretary of the Teachers’ Institute, Victoria, drawing attention to the publication of the Teacher, a journal devoted to the interests of education in Australasia, and offering liberal terms to the New Zealand teachers conditionally upon their adopting it as their organ. The proposal was favorably entertained by the meeting, and the following resolution passed;—“That this association does hereby adopt the Teacher, as the organ of the association upon the terms contained in the letter of the Melbourne secretary of the 19th ult.” A. member of the association was appointed corresponding secretary. Some discussion took place relative to pupil teachers, and a deputation was appointed to

wait upon'the Board at its next meetifig in reference thereto. - • '■■ ... ‘ A lengthy conversation then took place upon ..the new Education Bill. The teachers - expressed themselves very favorable to it as a whole. Some doubts were entertained as to whether the profession will not sustain a loss of income under the new order of things, but a disposition was manifested to rely upon the good sense of Parliament to do teachers throughout the colony substantial justice. The only objection taken to any part of the Bill was to the clauses enjoining religious instruction, and the following resolution was passed unanimously;—“That in the opinion of this meeting the religious clauses introduced into the new Education Bill are objectionable, for whilst the mere reading of a few verses out of the Bible without comment can do no good, the experience of teachers is that the distinction necessarily made between children of different denominations is productive of positive harm, tending as it does to generate dissensions, and even scepticism in the - minds 'of the pupils.” The members generally expressed themselves favorable to religious instruction if the various denominations could agree ; upon a common platform whereon such instruction could be imparted without invading the conscientious scruples of any.