TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 74, 6 July 1910, Page 3

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The animal meeting of the Taranaki, branch of the Teachers' Institute was held at the Education Board office, New Plymouth, on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Dempsey presided, and there were also! present: Mrs. Dowling, Misses Mynott, Riordan, Cowles, Rice, Messrs Tyrer, Mail, Tempier, Johnson, Stratford, Heatley, Brown, Hughes. Pope, Bocock, Meyenberg, Sandford and the secretary (Mr. Mcllroy).

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report was read as follows: —\Ye have the honor, on bejialf of the executive committee, to lay before you the annual report of the institute for the year ending June 30, 1910. Membership During the year the membership has continued to increase in a very satisfactory manner. On July 1, 1909, there were 110 members lon the books, and during the year the number rose to 138, being 92 per cent, of the teachers of the district. We still have the second highest percentage in the Dominion. Is it too much to hap'c that before long we shall hold first place? We have to thank those members who have used their influence in •persuading non-members to join. During' the past six months eight members have resigned, two through removal and sixj through leaving the service; but we hope' to see theft .places filled by their successors.

Meetings.—Five meetings have been held during the year, two at New Plymouth and three at Stratford. It is pleasing to note the increased interest in the work of the Institute, as shown by the larger attendance of members, compared with that of the previous years. Your executive has had a busy year, having held four meetings, all of which' were well attended, and at which a large amount of important work was .done.

Schemes of Work.—Your executive has done very valuable work in the compilation of schemes of work. That in geography was adopted at the April meeting, and a copy sent to every teacher in the district. * That it was appreciated is evidenced by the number of letters of thanks received from members, especially the younger ones and those situated in £he baclcblocks. The composition scheme is ready to be submitted for your approval, and arithmetic will be taken in hand shortly. These schemes are being sent to all teachers in Taranaki, whether members of the Institute or not, and i*' is to be hoped that non-members wi!'. appreciate, the work that is being gratuitously done for their benefit and will see their way to join our ranks. Annual Conference. Mrs. Dowling, Mr. Mail and the secretary were ap-, pointed delegates to the annual conference in Wellington. Unfortunately Mrs. Dowling was unable to go, her place being taken by Mr. Stratford. ■ Your representatives attended all the sessions, and in addition were put on the special committee set up to consider the syllabus. Some very important amendments were made, which the general executive will submit to the Minister if it has not already done so. Another very important matter dealt with was the new benevolent fund to assist members in necessitous circumstances. Any teacher who has been a member of the Institute for five years will be hble to participate in the benefits of this fund', which is to consist of the surplus from the legal defence funand of any other sums voted from th 1 .! ordinary fund of the New Zealand Educational Institute.

School Readers.—During the year sever".] sets of historical and geographical mulers were considered, with a view to replacing the "Struggle for Freedom" and "The World and its People." The new books—McDougall's Historical and Geographical Readers —will he found more suitable in many ways. These have been conditionally approved by our inspectors for use in the schools of Taranaki. Finances.—ffhe finances of the Institute are still in a very satisfactory condition. We began the year with a credit balance of £ll Is 4d. The total receipts were £56 9s 2d, and expenditure £43 7s lOd, the principal item bein, 2 £3 l 10s, our annual levy to tlift New Zealand Educational 'lnstitute. It is not generally known that we must contribute 5s .per member per annum to the central body, which absorbs a large part of the looa'l funds.

Thanks.—ln conclusion, the thanks of the Institute are due to the' Education Board and its inspectors for the courtesy with which all communications have been received during the "year. Mr. Johnson moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr. Tyrer seconded and congratulated the Institute on the very satisfactory progress made during the- year. He refer." <m to the circulation of schemes or work which was being undertaken by 'the Institute, which he considered would have beneficial results.

The report and balance-sheet were approved. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. ■

Officers were elected as follows for the ensuing year: President, Mr. Stratford; vice-presidents, Mrs. Dowling and Messrs. Dempsev and Tyrery. executive, Miss Mead and Messrs Tyrer, Johnson, Mail and (Pope; secretary, Mr. McUroy (re-elected); auditor, Mr. Bary (reelected). Eulogistic reference was made to the excellent services of Mr. Mcllroy as secretary during the year, and members expressed the" opinion that the success achieved was due to his efforts. He was voted a 'bonus of £3 3s. CLASSIFICATION SCHEMB.

Mr. W. A. Ballantyne attended the meeting and briefly explained the new classification scheme which had been approved by the Education Board on the recommendation of the inspectors. — On the suggestion of Mr. Tyrer it was agreed that the whole question be discussed by the executive.

GENERAL. Five new members were elected, bringing the total number up to 135. The Auckland Country Teachers' Association wrote with reference to a petition it proposed to place before the Minister of Education asking that teachers' houses be provided with modern conveniences, such as bath-rooms and wash-houses, and asked for the Institute's support,—lt was agreed to sign the .petition. Mr. Johnson proposed that a social be held and that a committee be set up consisting of the president, secretary, Mrs. Dowling, Miss Riordan and Mr. Dempsey to make arrangements. This was seconded pro forma iby Mr. Dempsey, but was lost. A vote »f thanks was passed to the auditor, Mr. Bary, for his services. Votes of thanks were also passed to the Education Board and its inspectors for the courtesy with which the Institute's communications had been received during the year and to the press for its active support to the cause of education. The secretary announced that nominations of delegates to the annual conference to be field at Hokitika must be in. his hands Vjr. JuJj' 31'. _ ;