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Report of the Educational institute of Stage, 1881-2.
The Committee of Management of the Institute present the following report of the transactions of the past year.
The various recommendations of the Annual Conference were fully considered, and such measures taken as were considered necessary to give effect to the views of the Institute.
Interim Report on the Standards.
The Interim Report of the Conference was adopted by your Committee. The report, a copy of which was sent to the Inspector-General, contained the following representations:—(1.) That whilst some of the appended notes were worthy of approval, others were opposed to the spirit of the original paragraphs of the Syllabus. (2.) That the Regulations stated that serious failure in two subjects shall be considered a failure in the Standard, whereas the Notes, Section 8, limited the number to serious failure in one subject. (3.) The hope was again expressed that, in the event of there being any modification of the existing Regulations, the suggestions of the Instituto would receive favourable consideration.
Resolution defining "Fair Attendance."
This resolution referred to the instructions issued by the Inspectors, and represented that these should be amended so as to allow teachers to withhold from the Standard examination all pupils who had not made a fixed number of attendances during the school year. It was considered by your Committee that, as the Regulations were issued by the Education Board, application should be made to that body asking for a more precise definition of "fair attendance." The resolution was forwarded to the Education Board. The reply stated that the Board had not the power to make the alteration suggested.
Resolution regarding Standard Questions.
A communication was sent to the Minister of Education concerning specimen questions of the various Standards. In reply your Committee were informed—"It was deemed better to issue Notes on the Standards than to prepare specimen questions. Such Notes were published, and the first paragraph of the Note on page 18 indicates in part the reasons for not sending out specimen questions."
Affiliation with Canterbury.
Your Committee gave considerable attention to the matter of affiliation with the Canterbury teachers. The result is so far very successful and encouraging. The Teachers in the neighbouring Province have formed Institutes at Timaru, Ashburton, Leeston, and Christchurch. Lengthy correspondence ensued between your Committee and the above Associations relative to a permanent basis of union between the two Provinces. It was thought expedient to postpone further negotiations until the annual Conference. A deputation of Canterbury teachers has been nominated to attend the annual meeting for the purpose of fully discussing the whole subject. In connection with this matter your Committee have to state that inquiries have been received from all parts of the Colony in regard to the working of the Institute, with the view of establishing similar organisations.
Branch Associations.
Your Committee have had under review during the year suggestions from the Branch Associations. By far the most important was a communication from the Southland Branch bearing on the method of payment of Teachers throughout the Colony. This and the report of your Committee thereon will be laid before the Conference.
Your Committee are pleased to slate that the Southland Branch has determined to remain in connection with the Institute. Letters have been received respecting the formation of a branch at Tapanui, which give promise, that ere long an association will be established in that district. The branch reports show that there has been more work done in this than in any previous year. Your Committee hope that measures will be taken to maintain the interest thus evinced, as the success of the Institute depends largely upon the support given by the Branch Associations.
Finance.
The following is the Treasurer's Report, showing a balance in hand of £30 19s.:—
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Balance Sheet.
Your Committee propose a reduction and a re-adjustment of the annual subscription as follows:—That rules 6 and 8 be amended; that 5s. per annum per member be paid to the Institute by the Branches, and that pupil-teachers and Normal School students be admitted to membership on the annual payment of 2s. 6d. Further, that Branches be permitted to fix any additional sum above the amount transmitted to the Institute, for local expenses.
Programme of Proceedings of Conference.
Copies of the programme of proceedings will be sent to members and teachers. In addition to the ordinary business thus provided for, members are invited to bring up for discussion such other matters as may appear to them worthy of consideration. Similar privileges to those of last year will be conceded to Teachers in the matter of railway passes. Your Committee have to thank the Education Board for sending out circulars to School Committees suggesting that the schools be closed in order that Teachers may attend the Conference. The thanks of the Institute are due to Mr. Pryde for the interest he has manifested in the success of the Annual Meeting.
D. White
, Secretary.W. J. Moore
, Treasurer. Dunedin,May 27, 1882.
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Annual Report of the Southland Branch.
We have the honour to submit to you the Annual Report for the year ending 31st March, 1882. During the year, ten meetings have been held, which have been latterly very fairly attended, and great interest seemed to have been taken in the meetings by those present. At the first meeting the election of the officers for the year took place. Mr. John Gurr was chosen to read a paper on behalf of the Branch at the Annual Conference, and Mr. Duncan, of Green Island, the Branch's Representative on the General Committee. The following members gave papers on the subjects connected with their names:—Mr. John Gurr, on "The Standards and how to meet them;" Mr. Hardie, on "The Teaching of Geography;" Mr. Orr, on "Composition related to Grammar;" Mr. Neill, on "A Country Teacher's Difficulties, and how to meet them;" Mr. Bennett, on "The Teacher's Aim;" Mr Southwick, on "The Teaching of Elementary Science;" Mr. Von Tonzulman, on "Notes on Dr. Trench's English, past and present."
Several other matters of importance engaged the attention of the Branch during the year. Abbott's "How to Parse," was pronounced a most unsuitable text book for pupil-teachers on the subject. It was considered that "bonuses on classification" should be distributed from the Central Department, and not from the several Boards, as at present. Early in the year a desire to separate from the Institute was manifested on the part of some of the members, but after the Conference, which many of the Teachers attended, it was considered best to maintain the connection already existing.
E. W. Gurr,
Secretary.
Annual Report of the Balclutha Branch.
In submitting the Fifth Annual Report of this Branch of the Institute, your Committee have to state that we began the year with nineteen members, four of whom were of other professions. Three of our members, who were regular in their attendance at our meetings, have removed to other districts; but their places have been filled by others, who are likely to take an active part in the affairs of the Institute. Seven meetings have been held during the year; but these have not been quite so well attended as those of last year. Four papers of great interest have been read, viz., on "The Phonic system of teaching beginners to read," by Mr. Grigor; "The reading of the Bible in Schools," by Mr. McColl; "The choice of a Profession by the Young, and our duties as Teachers in this matter," by Mr. Wad-dell; "School Prizes," by Mr. McEwen.
James McNeur,
Secretary.Annual Report of the Waitaki Branch.
On the 12th March, 1881, the Waitaki Branch of the Educational Institute was constituted for the year. Mr. Alex. Stewart, Union street school, Dunedin, was appointed Representative on the General Committee of Management, and Mr. Neil
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Fleming, Representative Essayist to Annual Meeting. Nine meetings were held—eight monthly and one extraordinary. This last was held for the purpose of considering the subjects to be recommended to the Oamaru Caledonian Society for its bursary competitions. At one of the monthly meetings the address of the retiring President, on "Our Schoolmasters," was criticised. The Secretary suggested that the Members should ballot for the order in which they should give papers. The ballot was taken and no member has failed to provide a paper since. The following is the list of subjects and essayists: "Difficulties of Inspection," Mr. Peattie; "Half-time Schools," Mr. Sinclair; "School Government," Mr. Lindsay; "Teaching of History," Mr. Rice; "Geography of the Standards," Mr. Wallace; "Critique on Possible Culture," Mr. Darley; "School Hygiene," Mr. Piper; "Teaching from Objects," Mr. Wood. The membership has slightly decreased, but the members have been more enthusiastic and more regular in attendance, and, as regards the work accomplished, this branch has never before been in so flourishing a condition. The above was adopted at the Annual Meeting on 4th March, 1882.
Robert Peattie,
Secretary.Annual Report of the Tuapeka Branch.
Our membership roll contains 13 names, but as some of our members reside from 5 to 16 miles from Lawrence—our place of meeting—our attendance is not what it might be were they more conveniently situated. The following papers have been contributed during the year, viz., "The Standards," by Mr. Bryant, Beaumont; "Method," by Mr. Macandrew, Waitahuna; "Geology," by Mr. Closs, Tuapeka West; "The Application of some of the Principles of Mental Science to the art of Teaching," by Mr. Macandrew. We have held 8 meetings during the year, but, as the time at our disposal is limited to about an hour and a
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halt, owing to the arrival and departure of the trains, we usually take the reading of the papers on one day, and the discussion on the following. In the matter of interchange of ideas, and experience, and as a medium of instruction, our meetings have been productive of much and lasting good.
R. Neill,
Secretary.Annual Report of the Milton Branch.
I have the honour to submit to you the Annual Report of the Milton Branch, for the year ending 28th April, 1882. During the year, three new members were enrolled, and one left the district. There is now a roll number of twenty members, including pupil-teachers. There were eight meetings of the Association, with an average attendance of nine members of the Institute. At these meetings the following papers were read, viz., (1.) "The Study of the English Language," Mr Lyttle; (2.) "Dialects of Old English," Mr. Reid; (3.) "The Physical Geography of the fifth and sixth standards," Mr. Mahoney; (4.) "Examinations," Mr. Joseph; (5.) "Aptitude," Mr. Morgan. It is a matter for congratulation that a revival of interest has taken place in educational matters in this district. It is to be hoped that a still greater interest will be taken in the welfare of the Institute in 1882. Those who are employed in the cause of education should show, by their diligence and earnestness, that they fully realize the importance of an Institution which is calculated to effect so much good.
John Lyttle,
Secretary.
Annual Report of the Dunedin Branch.
- May 7th, 1881, "On the present working of the Education Act in Scotland." Mr. Pollock.
- June 4th, 1881, "The Education of Teachers in Otago," Mr. Duncan.
- August 6th, "The Classification of names in Grammar," Mr. A. Montgomery.
- September 3rd. "The use of the Pantograph for Map Drawing," Mr. AY. J. Moore.
- October 1st, "Teaching Composition," continuation of a previous paper on the same subject, Mr. J. B. Park.
- November 5th, "Bishop Butler's Ethical System," Mr. Duncan.
- February 4th, 1882, "Teaching of English in Primary School," Mr. T. C. Farnie.
- March 4th, "Home Lessons," Mr. W. Hislop.
- April 1st, "Accuracy," Mr. Jas. Hendry.
- May 6th, "School Appliances," Mr. Jas. Mahoney.
From the above it will be seen that the Branch has been extremely fortunate in obtaining papers for all but one meeting. To this circumstance, and doubtless to the merits of many of the papers, may be attributed the improved attendance of our meetings.
Early last year the Branch resolved to publish Mr Park's book on Composition for the benefit of the profession. The success attending the venture may be gathered from the rapid sale of the book. About 500 copies were published, all of which have been disposed of with a slight profit to the Branch.
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It was deemed advisable to alter the time of the annual meeting of the Branch from March to June, in order to suit the annual meeting of the Institute held in the latter month.
The President was chosen to read a paper on behalf of the Branch at the annual Conference.
In conclusion, your Committee have to congratulate members on the prosperous condition of the Branch, and would strongly advise their successors to exert their influence in keeping up a lively interest in its affairs.
W. J. Moore
, Secretary.
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