TARANAKI TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1916, Page 3

TARANAKI TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

MEETING AT STRATFOED. A meeting of the above institute was held at Stratford on Saturday. Mrs. Dowling (president) presided over a fair attendance of members. Messrs E. Masters and Malone waited on the meeting to enlist the sympathy of tlie institution on behalf of'the patriotic gala to be held at Stratford on Easter Monday, and on their retirement, Mrs. A. Sims proposed—That the Stratford Patriotic Committee lias the ■sympathy and support of the institute, and thi s meeting hopes that all teachers will do their best to help to 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 mark'" fur the proficiency examination.—The veretary is to reply after intei'vi:-,\ n;; 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 by Mr. Meyonberg—(a) That the Taranaki District Institute i 3 not associated with the movement for delay; (b) that the Taranaki District Institute urges that the request for delay be not "acceded to; (c) that nothing but a Dominion scheme will be 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 promotion scheme as soon as possible. The executive's report on the scholarship regulations urged (a) that scholarships be no longer granted in schools of Grade 3b or higher," and that in schools of lower grades scholarships be granted on the basis of the proficiency examination to children put forward to compete by teachers; (b) that coaching overtime should not be allowed; (c) that the science paper should be arranged under headings for the various branches; (d) that the paper in geometrical drawing is too difficult. In'place of Clause (a) remit 8 on the order paper for the Easter Conference was adopted, urging that all scholarships be abolished and the .money so saved spent in paying the lodging expenses of those children who are highest in the free-place examination who require to live away from home in order to attend a secondary school. Miss Clemow and Mr. McHardie were 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.E.I. 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 favor being No. 26, which asks that headmasters be allowed to issue competency certificates for classes under Standard VI. It was agreed to favor the reform of the constitution of the X.Z.E.I. allowing the formation of separate district institutes in suitable geographical areas, in the hope of extending the interest in riie 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 be used for paying motor-'bus fares to enable young teachers to attend Saturday classes. The sum of £3 was voted towards defraying the lodging expenses of delegates attending the Easter Conference.