The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1902. THE EDUCATIONAL COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 4, 6 January 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1902. THE EDUCATIONAL COUNCIL.

The sitting of the delegates from the I various Teachers' Institutes in Niwj Plymouth is deserving of more than passing notice, There is no doubt but that the practice of holding the mei tiags in the various centres is an excellent one as it brings the very best m n in tbe teaching profession into contactwith the public in a way that must lead to good results. No one can attend one of the meetings of this council without being struck with the earnestness, the high aspiration?, the belf abnegation and the/love for the work in which thqy are engaged, shown by the great of those taking part in,discussions having for their object the furthering of the educational welfare of the colony. That the people of New Zealand recognise the value of education and the importance of the work of teaching has been proved in a very marked manner, first by the establish-1 ment of a national system and secondly by the passing of the Teaohers' Salaries Act last session. There is no more important work than the training of the young, and in these colonies where Jthe work of nation building goes on so rapidly the future of the State lies to a very large extent in the hands of tbe teachers, who have the training of the [future men and women of the colony. That this work has been faithfully per- | formed is shown by the creditable positions taken by many young New Zfalatdera in Parliament, in tbe learned professions, in trade and commerce, New Zealanders are showing their ability to hold their own anywhere, and plenty of evidence is forthcoming to show that the educational foundations have been soundly and wisely laid by teachers now old and gray in the service. There is also j plenty 6r evidence to show that the modern teacher is even better equipped | for his work than those who have already done so much lor the colony. His Worship the Mayor referred in his excellent address, at the opening sesrion of the council, to the fact that the [teachers were so well represented in | the various contingents, was very creditable to the teaching profession, | He might have gone further, and given | the teachers some credit for the enthusiastic response made by the young ] men of New Zealand to the call to | (arms. We look on it as on« of the best proofs possible of the good work I done by the teachers of the colony. The excellent conduct of the New Zealand troops on all occasions, their discipline, endurance of hardships, and courage, all point to the fact that the moral effect of their training has been all that eould be desired and has brought out all that is stiong and noble and manly. While we regret that tbe necessity for these contingents has arisen, it must be a matter for rejoicing, to every patriot, to find that the teachers of the colony, while not neglecting the purely literary portion of their work, have inculcated a spirit of patriotism, a sense of duty and endurance that has made our troops tho admiration of the Empire. That such meetings as that being held in New Plymouth tend to encourage, strengthen and educate the delegates goes without saying, while those of the public who have availed themselves of the privilege of attending the meetings must feel greater confidence in the future owing to the anxiety shown by all the delegates to keep this colony in the van from an educational standpoint. We feel sure that everyone in Taranaki will wish them success, and hope that, in spite of their visit being at a time wheti so many people are away on their holidays, it will oe an enjoyable one.