EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1920, Page 7

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

FUBTHEK RESOLUTIONS. By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Wellington, Jan. 3. At tlio Educational Institute Conference Mr. Garry moved tkat no system of grading and payment of teachers will be acceptable unless based upon efficiency and service alone. Several speakers contended that efficiency alone should count. Ultimate/ a sub-committee was set up to consider and report on all remits dealing with this subject. The vexed question of special recognition of services of teachers in backblocks schools was discussed. The subject was introduced by Mr. J. W. Wilson, of Grey, wbo moved than when » new schedule of salaries is being framed the department be asked to make extra grants to teachers ia out of the way places. One speaker pointed out that teachers going to Samoa were granted a special allowance, and he urged that teachers at backblocks schools slgwild also receive some recognition of their special services in addition to what small recognition had now been given. Miss Goad (Wellington) said she considered an education board should be made responsible for the provision of board in backblocks schools and if it were unable to do so another position should be found for a teacher.

The motion was carried unanimously. Consideration was next given to the position of woman teachers.

Miss A. E. Chaplin (Canterbury) introduced a remit "That in every large school of grade 5 and upwards the responsibilities of the senior class mistress shall include:—(l) Special attention to the health, morals, and manners of girls; (2) General supervising and teaching of a correlated course of lessons in elementary physiology and hygiene; and (3) The general oversight of all matters which specially affect the welfare of girls, such mistress to have a status and salary equal to that of infant mistress."

The main point made by the mover and by Miss M. Smith (Canterbury), who seconded the motion; was that no one but a woman teacher was able to exert the steadying influence essential to the future welfare of girls and that special subjects could only be taught to girls by a woman teacher.

After discussion Mr. Garry (Hawke's Bay) moved that "Senior class mislress" be amended to read "Class mistress," and that words after "The welfare of girls" be deleted. In this form the motion was carried.