TARANAKI TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 95, 28 March 1916, Page 3

TARANAKI TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE.

A meeting of the Institute was held at Stratford on Saturday'. Mrs Dowling presided over a fair attendance of members. Messrs 11. Masters and Malone waited on the meeting to enlist the sympathy of the institution on behalf of the patriotic gala to bo held at Stratford on Easter Monday, and on their retirement, Mrs A. Sims proposedThat the Stratford Patriotic Committee has the sympathy and support of the institute, and this meeting hclpes that all teachers will do their best to help make it a success.—Seconded by Mr Mail and carried. A large amount of correspondence was read and dealt with. The Wanganui District Institute enquired the opinion of the institute on “merit marks” for the proficiency examination. —The secretary is to lepl.’S after interviewing the inspectors to .see how they are given in Taranaki. Strong disapproval was expressed regarding Auckland’s request for delay in introducing the Dominion grading scheme for teachers, the following resolutions being (passed, on the motion of Mr Brown, seconded hy Mr Mcyenherg —(a) That the Taranaki District Institute is not associated with the movement for delay; (h) that the Taranaki District Institute urges that the request for delay be not acceded to; (c) that nothing but a Dominion scheme will he satisfactory, that to give it a parochial or district application would defeat the object in view; and (d) that the scheme should be extended into a Dominion promo-

tion schem’e as soon as possible. The executive’s report on the scholarship regulations urged (a) that scholarships he no longer granted in schools of Grade 3b or higher, and that in schools of lower grades scholarships he granted on the basis of the (proficiency examination to children put. forward to compete by teachers; (h) that coaching overtime should not be allowed; (c) .that the science paper should he arranged under headings tor the various branches; (d) that the paper in geometrical drawing is too difficult. In place of Clause (s) remit 8 on the order paper for the Easter Conference was adopted, urging that nl] scholarships he abolished and the money so saved spent in paying the lodging expenses of those children who are highest in the free-placo examination who require to live away from home in order to attend a secondary school. Miss Clemow and Mr McHardie wore elected members of the institute. Strong disapproval was expressed regarding the anomalies in the payments to teachers who enlist in the ■ expeditionary forces, and the secretary was instructed to write to the secretary of the N.Z.fI.T. for fuller information with a view to taking action in the matter. The order paper for the Easter Conference was then considered for the information of the Institute’s delegates, the only remit not meeting with

fa vor being Xo. 26, which asks that headmasters be allowed to issue competency certificates fox classes under Standard VI. It was agreed to favor the reform of tiie constitution of the X.Z.E.I. allowing the formation of separate district institutes in suitable geographi-

cal areas, in the hope of extending the interest in the work of the institute. It was resolved to write to the Minister of Education asking that part of the money allowed for the training of teachers he used for paying motor-’bus fares to enable young teachers to attend Saturday classes; y x The sum of tT-'l was voted towards defraying the ■ lodging, expenses.of delegates attending the Easter Conference.