NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 373, 20 December 1898, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

WAIKATO BRANCH. A MEETING of the above was held in the Ohaupo schoolroom on Saturday last. The following members were present : Messrs Stevens (in the chair), Colhoun, Chapman, Jenkins, Misses Mackay and Holden, and Mr Pilkington, Secretary. The Chairman read apologies from several members who could not attend. A vote of sympathy was passed to Mr Colhoun on account of his recent family affliction. The Chairman said that the legal expenses incurred in defending Mrs Bruce in the case tried in Cambridge a short time a?o had been paifl, and the Council of the Institute would refund the amount. Toe balance-sheet was then read, which showed a credit balance of 2s 4d. —On the motion of Mr Chapman, seconded by Mr Jenkins, the balancesheet was adopted. The Chairman was appointed a delegate to attend the annual Conference of teachers, to be held in Chiistchurch in January next, with a request that he would take notes of the proceedings and learn all he could re educational matters. —Mr Stevens thanked the members present for the confidence reposed in him, ,uid in the course of his remarks spoke of the. '• petty tyranny ” some teachers in outlying districts had to put up with, owing to the ignorance and narrow mindedness of Committees. Happily in the Waikato, we had nothing to complain off ; hut while attending the Conference last year he heard some pitiful stories in regard to strained relations between commit tees and teachers. Mr Pilkington drew attention to the Kindergarten System, which he said was instruction by construction, clay modeling, etc,, :-,ud similar modes. This method he argued was most interesting to the children, more effectively impressing the mind than the reading of books. He thought school-life was not made as attractive as it should he, In some schools the system has been partially introduced with, he understood, favourable results. —The Chairman agreed with the speaker’s remarks, and said that in continental schools the system was very much in vogue, with beneficial results, and referred to a pamphlet written by a Mr Bates that gave all information on the subject, the Inspectors were abo in favour of introducing it into the public schools.—Miss Mackey spoke highly of the Kindergarten method of instruction.—Mr Chapman moved that Mr Stevens get all the information he could on the subject and report at next meeting.—The motion was carried. Re attending as delegate at Conference, Mr Stevens was requested to bring the following motion before the Council: “ That a colonial scheme of salaries he adopted and that this question he strongly urged upon the Educational Department.” Re anonymous letters to the Press, the meeting regretted the action of the Press in publishing anonymous letters that are hurtful and likely to injure the character and a teacher, arguing that if a teacher had done anything wrong the Inspectors and Board have to deal with him. A discussion then ensued re the ability of children to learn during the milking season. It was stated that during the height of the season the children were often so s’ecpy that they could do very little. Children getting up at four in the morning and milking several cows before coming to school had too great a strain on their physical strength, and, in consequence, the brain suffered.—The Chairman remarked that, under those circumstances, parents expected too much from both children and teachers. If the body was fatigued, the child could not learn, no matter how well taught. It was decided to hold the next meeting on the last Saturday in February, at 11 o’clock. Votes of thanks to Mr and Mrs Colhoun, who kindly entertained the visitors, and to the committee for the use of the schoolroom, concluded the business. This branch is stronger now than it has ever been, and, in future, at every meeting there will be a paper read on some school subject, which will then be thoroughly discussed, so that the younger teachers may have the benefit of the experience of their seniors.