BACK BLOCKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2050, 10 April 1907, Page 4

BACK BLOCKS.

SCHOOL BUILT OF PALINGS.

Examples of wliat serious difficulties face country settlers in the “outback” districts in the matter of education of their children come before almost every meeting of the Auckland Board of Education. One day it is an appeal on behalf of children who have to walk over roads that bog-biillocks teams; another day it is a question of providing a half-time school in some remote neighborhood, where half-a-dozen children have been running almost wild in the bush, and again the Board is called upon to look into a case where a female teacher is required by the exigencies of her work to reside in surroundings that offend every sense. At Friday’s meeting Inspector Grierson reported having visited Tiroliauga, where there is a building which, instead of being called a school should have some special name designed for it. The

inspector said: ‘‘Nineteen scholars wore present in a shed lOJft by 7Jlt, built of palings, with sft. studs, a mud floor, and no ventilation but that provided by gaps between tho shingles of tho roof. A school building about midway between tho present Hcliool and the beach is urgently noodod.” Tlio inspector further added that tho method and quality of tho instruction imparted by Miss White, tho teacher, was very satisfactory, and tho teaching was brightly and intelligently presented and well impressed. Mr J. Stallworthy, remarked that this was “open-air treatment.”

Tlio Secretary (Mr V. E. Rice) said tlio Hoard was at present awaiting information from the pooplo of the district before recommending to the Dopnrtmont that a grant should bo made for a building.