TARANAKI TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1917, Page 7

TARANAKI TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

• GENERAL MEETING. 'A general meeting of the above Institute was held in Hawera on Saturday afternoon. Mr. A. V. Sims (president) presided over a good attendance of members. As this was the first meeting held in Hdwera since the enlargement of the Taranaki Education District Messrs. C. A. Strack and W. A. Cutties, on behalf of the teachers in the southern end of the district, extended 6 hearty welcome to their confreres of the northern end, and hoped they would enjoy their visits to Hawera. The president replied on behalf of the northern teachers.

Apologies were received for the absence of Mrß. Dowling, Miss Slattery and Messrs Bary and Meyenberg. Ten new members were elected, making tho total membership 250.

It was decided to take no action in regard to the proposal for daylight saving, the feeiing being that the scheme would not suit in a dairying district like Taranaki.

Mr. A. V; Sims proposed that the Carnegie 'Library Commitee bo thanked for its offer to purchase books of special value to teachers" and place them on their shelves. Seconded by Mr. T. Thomas and carried.

A diocuscion took place on the place of handwork in primary schools. The following resolutions were adopted:— (I 1 ) That handwork should be an essential subject in the curriculum of primary schools and' should form part of the work Qf every class. It should be % an aid to other subjects more than a subject by itself. (2) Tho main aims of a teacher of handwork should bo to train the hand and eye and mental faculties. (3) For the infant classes the most suitable forms of handwork are stick layin,", and bricklaying and plasticine for Standards I. and 11. paper folding, for lir. aIl (i IV. cardboard, V. and VI. woodwork for boys and cooking for girls} sewing for all girls above the infant claws. The educational objects o! handwork should prodonjinate, and not more than two hours a week should be devoted to the work,