TEACHERS' CONFERENCE

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 14, 23 March 1938, Page 3

TEACHERS' CONFERENCE

HELD AT OPOTIKI LARGE NUMBER PRESENT conference of . teachers was held in Opotiki recently in the District High School, under the leadership ot Mr. AloUhesuey and Air Robertson, two of the Auckland: inspectors. There were thirty-six teachers present, including several from schools. The first session was taken up by the inspectors, who explained the broad basis of the new ideals in education and tbeir application in the-mod-ern classroom. Air AlcChesney. in,the opening speech, expressed the general ideals and theory underlying, the modern outlook. He stressed tliY> immense strides of the last decade in the direction of freedom for;, teachers and pupils. Primitive men were entirely dominated by their environment, and had to fight for their very existence. Through the ages a gradual change had taken pjace, until modern man was more capable of becoming master of his own soul. AVe should educate, then, in the light of these facts. Jn the first place, education must Vie a full preparation for life. Many children left school unprepared for life, with their innate capacities undiscovered and undeveloped. In its last essence, Education was a Spiritual Process, and must- deal with man’s Saul as well as his mind and body. Children needed to form strong habits of character, a sense of duty, ability to persevere, chnsideration for otneis, a team spirit, and above all a sense oi righteousness, by which was meant a real love of goodness, and beauty in art, literature, music and nature. Education must be a Unity in :ts ideal, but. at present the physical part of the unit of the human, being was unsatisfactory. The speaker described an experiment, carried out in & big Auckland school, under the supervision of a doctor, to' improve the health of the children, and its success. He closed his address with a comment oil the happy relationship of the modern teacher to the community.

Air Robertson in his address showed how these high ideals could be practically applied in the classroom. Did our curriculum, he asked, offer sufficient scope for us to be “educators rather than “teachers”. Public opinion was beginning to demand that children be fitted to live usefully, and above all happily in the community. In order to accomplish this radical change.? were necessary. In the firs,t place the school must he organised in such -t way as to ensure the fullest development of each child. The old system of classification was obsolete, hue its complete abolition was hindered b> the present arrangement of floor space and equipment. Children should now be classified individually, accordingly to their ability in each subject, and not held back in one subject because of weakness in others. The'- sole aim was that each child 'should develop the maximum of efficiency, self reliance and self-activity of which it was capable. The sole charge teacher was most fortunate in his planning of work, since his organisation affected only himseli, outbigger schools must regard themselves" more as one whole, not as a collection of water-tight classes. ’The speaker indicated by reference to schemes and: work bocks, the very great liberty to be allowed teachers in the choice ot topics within the subjects, and the umount to be taken in each subject. In summing up. Ah' Robertson said that the New Freedom was ours, to consecrate by achievement, so refuting the ever-present forces of reaction within the profession or in elm general public. ’The remaining two sessions were devoted to discussion among the teachers as to how they would apply the methods of freedom. Problems were raised concerning various subjects, such as arithmetic, nature study, history and geography, formal English. The inspectors stated that certain minimum requirements were being compiled, to be regarded as nominal, and the teachers could enlarge or not as they thought fit, and could try out any methods they thought would he useful. The problem of classification was discussed at some length, and an interesting experiment which is being tried in an Auckland school was described —all classes have been abolished, except the equivalent of our Std. 11, the children below and above that stage being classified according to their dif-

feront interests and capacities. Some doubts were expressed about the new system of classification because ol the confusion when children move from school to school, but it was pointed out that, with records and 1 tests, new pupils could quickly be fitted into any scheme. Schools would certainly differ from district to district. Great- stress was placed on the immense value of creative work, especially! dramatic periods and art. Group work was also strongly commended for suitable subjects. A most profitable day was brought to a close by a hearty vote.of thanks to the leaders of the conference.