The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 83

The Eighth Annual Report of the Educational Institute of Otago

Report of the Educational Institute of Otago

T he. Committee of Management have much pleasure in laying before Members the Eighth Annual Report of the Institute. The various recommendations and proposals adopted at the Annual Meeting and submitted to the Committee have been fully considered.

Outside this business nothing of importance has been under consideration during the year. The Committee have to report on the resolutions concerning

The New Zealand Educational Institute.

Messrs. W. S. Fitzgerald, W. Milne, J. Reid, and D. White were nominated to attend the Auckland Council. Mr. J. Reid was, unfortunately unable to attend, and Mr. Hislop was elected to take his place. All the Otago delegates were present, and report that the Auckland meeting was very successful. The resolutions sent by the Otago District Institute were carried, and have since been forwarded to the Hon. the Minister for Education, who states that they are receiving careful consideration. The resolutions with respect to Teachers' Certificates have been before the Senate of the New Zealand University, but final consideration of the subject has been deferred until next meeting of the Senate. A full account of the proceedings of the Institute Meeting at Auckland will be laid before the Annual Meeting.

Time of Teachers' Examinations.

At the suggestion of the Institute, the Education Department has arranged that the Annual Examination for Classes D and E be held towards the middle or end of December, instead of in the month of February as heretofore.

The Instruction of Pupil Teachers.

The resolutions bearing on this subject were sent to the local Associations, and their replies will be found in the reports of the Branch Institutes.

Illustrative Teaching.

The Committee made inquiry of the head masters of the City schools as to the assistance they could give in carrying out the recommendation of the Institute. None of them were disposed to keep their schools open during the Conference week, and thus, so far as the large schools were concerned, the scheme was found to be impracticable. The Committee thought, however, that keeping the Model School open whilst the Institute is sitting would probably meet the case, and give country teachers an opportunity of seeing the organization and working of the School. With this view application was made to the Secretary of the Education Board, who states that under present circumstances it would be inexpedient to keep the School open during the time mentioned. No other course being open to the Committee, the idea of giving practical effect to the resolution had to beabandoned.

Branch Reports.

The Branch Reports show, on the whole, an increase of Membership The Tapanui Branch has ceased to exist, and a few Teachers in that District have attached themselves to the Institute without being connected with any Branch.

Minutes of Proceedings.

The Committee did not consider it advisable to print the minutes of proceedings as directed by the Institute, as most of the business transacted at the Anuual Meeting usually re-appears in the Report of the succeeding year.

The Annual Meeting.

The Railway arrangements are as hitherto. Members in attendance at the Conference will receive tickets, and on these being presented at the Education Office, half of the travelling fares will be refunded. The Committee of Management have to thank Mr. Pryde for his kindness in assisting to make the meeting of the Institute a success.

D. White

, Secretary

W. J. Moore

, Treasurer.

Annual Report of the Balclutha Branch.

This Branch has held six meetings during the year, but on account of several changes of teachers taking place in the district, and also the fact that some of the schools have their holidays at Christmas, while others have theirs during the Harvest, the attendance has been interfered with, although on the whole it has been very fair.

The number of papers read during the year has been less than previously, there being only one, by Mr John Nicholson, on "Are the Requirements of the Syllabus Excessive, and Calculated to Overstrain the Mental Faculties of Children?" Suggestions from the General Committee of Management of the Otago Educational Institute, and various subjects of educational importance have, however, been discussed at our meetings.

Three members have left the district during the year, but as two have only recently gone, their successors have hardly had an opportunity of attending.

William Renton

, Secretary.

Rules &; Regultions of the Educational Institute of Otago.

I—Constitution of the Institute.

The Institute shall consist of teachers in the Government schools. Other persons may be admitted to membership in accordance with the provisions of Rule VI.

II.—Officers of the Institute.

The officers of the Institute shall consist of a President, three Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Librarian who shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Institute, and shall hold office for one year. Vacancies shall be filled by the Committee of Management. All elections shall be determined by ballot.

III.—The Committee of Management.

The Committee of Management shall consist of (1) the officers, a representative of each of the Branch Associations, and five members chosen at the annual meeting of the Institute. (2) The Committee shall conduct the business of the Institute, and shall prepare and submit to the annual meeting a report of the proceedings, and abstract of accounts for the year. These shall be printed and circulated amongst members at least one week before the annual meeting. (3) The Committee shall meet quarterly, in the months of February, May, August, and November. Special meetings may be called by the Secretary. Six members shall form a quorum.

IV.—The Annual Meetin.

The annual meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Institute shall determine.

VI.—The Library.

The library shall be under the control of the Committee of Management.

VII.—Branch Associations.

Branch Associations shall be formed throughout the Education District. The following are the Branches of the Institute :—Dunedin, Oamaru, Milton, Balclutha, Lawrence, and Tapanui. (1) The Committee of Management may sanction the establishment of other Branches. (2) Officers of Branch Associations—The officers of Branch Associations shall consist of a President, a Secretary, Treasurer, and Librarian. (3) Meetings—Branch Associations shall meet monthly on the first Saturday of the month; hold their annual meetings one month before the annual meeting of the Institute, and prepare and send to the Secretary of the Institute their annual report and abstract of accounts. (4) The annual subscription of 5s. per annum per member paid to the Branch Association shall be remitted to the Treasurer of the Institute. (5) Branch Associations may, in order to defray local expenses, impose an additional subscription beyond the amount payable to the Treasurer of the Institute.

VIII.—Relation of Branch Associations to the Institute.

(I) Members of the Institute shall be regarded as belonging to the Branch in the District where they reside, and shall pay the annual subscription to the Treasurer of that Branch, but a teacher residing at an inconvenient distance from a Branch centre may become a member of the Institute on payment of the annual subscription to the Treasurer of the Institute. (2) A member of one Branch Association may attend and take part in, but shall not necessarily have the privilege of voting at the meetings of another Association.

IX.—Conduct and Order of Business.

All debates and proceedings of meetings of the Institute and its Branches shall be conducted according to the rules and regulations usually recognised by deliberative bodies.

X.—Additional Bye-Laws.

Branch Associations may adopt other bye-laws for the conduct of business, provided they contain nothing contrary to the general rules of the Institute.