Educational.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 15, 8 July 1893, Page 7

Educational.

SOUTHLAND TEACHERS' ' . CONFERENCE. A conference in connection, with the Southland Educational Institute opened in the High School on Wednesday, June 88th, when there were nearly 100 teachers present. The secretary (Mr W. H. Clark) submitted the report and balance sheet for the past year. These showed that a marked increase of membership had taken place during the year, and that a satisfactory credit balance stood in favour of the Association. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted, as follows: — L President : Mr Robert MeNab, M.A., LL.B.; Vice-presidents: Miss H. L. Birss and Mr M. Gilfedder; Secretary and Treasurerj Mr W. H. Clark (re-elected); Executive Committee : Messrs Webber, Hardie and Gazzard, together with the two vice-presidents and the secretary. MrT. E. Gazzard haying read his presidential address, pointing out the advantages that accrue from being members of Teachers’ Unions, Miss Birss took' the chair, and the work of the Conference proper began. Miss Jamieson, 8.A., read a paper on “ Our Girls,” in which she dwelt on the deficiencies in female education,. and advocated the use of calisthenics and lessons bn cookery and other household duties. Mr Mehaffcy followed with “ University Extension,” in which he deprecated the ultraconservatism of our University authorities in their reluctance to concede any advantages to. outside students. He moved “ that the Uni : versity Senate .be asked to. re-enact a provision of 1878, allowing teachers of good repute and of five years’ standing to sit for the degree examinations without matriculation or the keeping of terms.” This motion was carried unanimously, and an adjournment was made to 7.30 p.m. At the evening siiting the Rev. J. Ferguson presided. Mr Denniston read a paper on “ Our Education System.” He advocated Bible reading, the raising of the school age, and the excision of the 6th standard. He disapproved of the present method of inspection of schools, and of appointing teachers. Miss Bain then delivered her paper Jon the “ Remuneration of Teachers,” contending that female teachers should receive the same salaries as male for the same amount of work. The Rev. W. White, M.A. (Wallacctown), dealt with the “Teaching Profession,” and contended that teachers at present had not enough of freedom. He pourtrayed what he considered amendments in the examining of schools and. in the training of teachers. At the afternoon session on Thursday Mr Gilfedder occupied the chair. Mr A. H. Highton, M.A., read a learned and carefully prepared paper; on “ Units.” Ho rccom# mended the adoption of the Metric system of weights of measures. —Mr Webber was the next- on the programme, and read a very interesting paper on “ Kindergarten methods and occupations applicable to primary schools.” He advocated the establishment bf a few good kindergarten schools, and enumerated some of the exercises that could be readily adopted in country schools.

i Orithe motion.of Mr Hiddlestone (Otautau? Ttiwas resolved to approve of the resolutions of the Hon. of Thej, Otago Education Board anent inspectors ! examination s of schools. ’

On Thursday evening Mr Geo. Eroggatt . took the chair. Mr McNab. read a very able,. ‘ lucid, and trenchant paper oh the “ Outlook of bur, secondary schools.” He contended that the High : Schools ■were not popular, and showed how they could be made popular,; and "j adapted td those seeking a mechanical arid commercial as well as a professional training. He thought secondary schools should be. worked on low-grade University principles. . The Eev. Mr Thornton, M.A.j then delivered an address on the “ Collateral Culture of the' Teacher,’’'in which he : advocated the. desirableness of wide • reading arid study on the part of a teacher outside the borders of his own profession, arid called '.attention to the facilities that teachers and students of the present time had of acquiring knowledge of the world and of men. The last sitting of the Conference was held on Friday morning, when Miss Birss again presided. Mr Selby read an able paper on “ Irregular attendance,” in which he deplored •he apathy and penury of parents who kept their children at home “ a-’tatering.” He pointed out instances of the progress of highly intelligent and clover children being retarded through parental carelessness: Mr Yon Tunzelmann r*sd an interesting paper ori ‘‘Some Points;” The genial teacher of Woodlands dealt with many points such as horrie-lessons, travels, phonetics, and etiquette in his usual able style.

Mr W. H. Clark sketched the career of the “National Union of Teachers in England,” and gave a pleasing account of its work. .He pointed out the numerous concessions and advantages the teaching profession of England had secured through the instrumentality of the N.U.T., and hoped the day was not far distant when the New Zealand Educational Institute would become a power in the land’. A conversazione in the evening brought to a close a conference successful beyond the most sanguine expectations, and conspicuous not only for the preponderance of the “ female persuasion” at ; all the meetings, but also for the interest and enthusiasm displayed throughout.

EDUCATIONAL

TO THE EDITOE. Sin,' —As ’ one who attended the meetings of the Teachers’ Conference in the High School last week, permit me through the medium of your widely circulated paper! to express my recognition of the unparalleled success that attended the gathering, and to pay my humble tribute to the admirable manner in which the arrangements were made and carried out. I perceived with satisfaction that the attendance was large, and essentially representative, for from For trose and PuJjerau on the east, from Orepuki on the west, and from the northern uplands of Cardrena, members of the pedagogic profession wended their way to the rendezvous at Invercargill. They came no doubt anticipating a treat, and they one and all aver that their expectations were fully realised. The papers read at the conference were, to say the least of them, scholarly productions, not only in respect to their literary merits, which were indeed of a very high order, but also for their able and' lucid exposition, strong arguments and valid reasoning. The smooth running sentences and polished die* tion of Mr Denniston, -the sound commonsense and logical conclusions of Mr McNab, and the eminently- practical contributions of Messrs Webber amid Selby, could not fail to animate and inspire any audience, while the meritorious productions of the lady essayists (Misses Bain and Jamieson) gave a charming variety to the programme and afforded the public striking instances of the intellectual ablility of the fair sex. The items of the other contributors were, ably rendered and well received. ‘ They displayed much judgment, good learning and wide views of men and of the world. The discussions which followed the various subjects afforded opportunities for the exchange of sentiments and gave ample scope for the diversity of opinion to be brought prominently before a critical audience. That such a conference must be productive of good results cannot be denied. I trust such assemblies will be of annual recurrence, for they cannot fail to engender a kinder feeling and a more sympathetic disposition among the members of the teaching profession—cahhot fail, to arouse enthusiasm and interest in scholastic -work, by the dis--cussion of improved methods of instruction adapted to the requirements of a progressive age. The management are to be highly complimented on the success that has attended their efforts,,and as I understand 100 members have enrolled for the current year, I have not the slightest doubt that, under the able administration of their energetic secretary, the Teachers’ Institute will be in a position to hold an equally successful conference in June, 1894.—Yours, etc., Alpha.