NATIVE SCHOOLS CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2100, 28 January 1908, Page 1

NATIVE SCHOOLS CONFERENCE.

A gathering of fifty Native schoolteacher*, from the North Cape to the Bluff, met in conference at bt. Stephens’ Maori College, l ainell, Auckland, on Thursday and a> , 23rd and 24th 111st. There Mas also a short sitting on Satuidaj, and in the .afternoon a lecture at the Normal School, by-Mr. ackson, of the Agricultural Department was listened to. Mr J. McCouin presided and he was. re-elected pi esident of the Association, with Mr. O. H. Brown as secretary.. Mr. Newton, president ot the New Zealand Institute was present, and congratulated the conference on the system of centralisation, under which they worked. They dealt direct with the Department, and got what they wanted. Sir E. 0. Gibbes was also present. All tlio intricate parts ot the new syllabus were freely discussed by the teachers and inspectors, and Mr. r . K. Do Castro, who represented the Government. The clauses touching upon teachers’ salaries were elucidated by Mr. DoCastro, and the teachers were anxious to know how the nature study and manual classes were to bo worked and full particulars were given by the inspectors. . The Teachers’ Association, winch bad been- in a somewhat moribund condition, was resuscitated, and the journal in connection with the Association, the Teachers’ Gazette, will now bo edited bv Inspector \Y. W. Kirk, and published in A\ dlhngton quarterly. . , . Requests lor various school accessories were broupght up and promises to supply them were made. A presentation was made to Mr. Wilson, the Principal of the College as a mark of appreciation at his kindness to the visiting delegates*