TARANAKI TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1921, Page 7

TARANAKI TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE.

GENERAL MEETING. A general meeting of the above was ' held at Hawera on Saturday. Mr. W. A. Curtis presided over a large and representative meeting. Twelve new members were elected, making the total membership about 270. A considerable amount of correspondence was dealt with. In reply to a letter from the Canterbury branch re time taken in filling vacancies, the secretary was instructed to reply, giving particulars of the methods used in Taranaki, and Mr. H. A. Stratford moved that the attention of the Taranaki Education Board be drawn to the present very unsatisfactory method of filling vacant positions by relieving teachers, many of whom are quite unqualified for the position. The Institute suggests that the Board request teachers to give longer notice where possible when resigning, so that suitable arrangements may be made to fill the expected vacancy. This was seconded by Mr. O. J. Howarth and carried.

The Institute was asked to give suggestions for improving the School Journal. The following points, were mentioned:—That some of the articles are not models of good literary composition; most of the poetry is not suitable for pupils’ recitation; there should be more material in Part 2; the Journal is pubj lighed too lata in the month; facilities should 'be provided, for binding the ten .1 copies of each year into a single volume; fat the beginning of each year,..or end lof the previous year, an outline should i be given of the articles to be given on jhygiene, geography, history, etc., so that j teachers may use them in drawing up i their schemes of work for the year. A proposal from the Assistant Masters’ Association for a better grading of schools was adopted, with an addition that Grade Ilf. A. schools should be 30 to 72 pupils. Owing to the increased levy being demanded by the N.Z.E.1., Mr. H. A. Stratford proposed that the annual sub scription be raised’ to £l. Seconded by Mr. Strack and carried. Mr. C. A. -Strack proposed that in Grade 7 schools there should be three male assistants. Miss .Slattery proposed that the regulations remain as at present. Mr. Strack’s motion was carried.

i A. discussion on speech training was [to have taken place, but as the hour , was late, . and many teachers were anxious to nee the North v. South Primry Schools match, it was decided to postpone the discussion to a special meeting to bo held at Staatford in a month’s time, and Mr. Valentine, senior inspector, is to be asked to give an address on the subject. . . V