NATIVE SCHOOLS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2097, 24 January 1908, Page 3

NATIVE SCHOOLS

CONFERENCE OF TEACHERS

Press Association. AUCKLAND, January 23. Tho largest gathering of teachers of Native schools that lias ever been held in New Zealand, is now assembled at Auckland. The teachers of the various Native schools throughout the North Island, principally the Auckland and East Coast districts, are meeting in conference at-ist. Stephen’s school for Maori boys, l arnell, for tbo purpose of discussing the new syllabus for Native schools, wlncli comes into force from the beginning of the present year. The course of school work laid down in this syllabus, is far in advance of the old code of instruction, and it practically brings these schools, so far as the standard of instruction is concerned, into line until the ordinary State schools. The conference is being held at the request of the Education Department for the purpose of ascertaining tho views of the teaclieis, concerning the new syllabus, and the Department is being represented at the proceedings by Mr. De Costa, Chief Clerk of the Department. The chief inspector of Native schools (Mr. W. W. Bird, M. A.), is pressing at the conference, and Mr. J. Porteous, assistant inspector, is also present. There are about fifty teachers present. The conference was opened to-day and will be continue!, to-morrow. •