BACKBLOCKS TEACHERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 446, 9 March 1912, Page 5

BACKBLOCKS TEACHERS.

A discussion of interest to those concerned in the matter of school teaching in the back blocks took place at this week's meeting of the Education Board, when Mr McKenzie moved according to notice, "That the time has arrived when aided schools, viz., those in Grade O, should be placed in a jriore satisfactory position, by fixing the minimum salary for the teachers of such schools at not less than £BO a year."

The mover said the board was not justified in asking the department to send to the back blocks' schools any but qualified teachers, and therefore it was desirable that a salary adequate to the requirements of competent teachers should be provided. There were 135 back country schools, classed as Grade 0 with attendances of over 700 children. He desired to see a beginning made by the Department of Education in the direction of providing a "living" salary. It had been claimed that the a lowance of £6 per head per child was more than obtained in any other country. But the conditions here necessitated going still further.

The chairman suggested that the resolution be altered by providing that in the case of schools having an average attendance of from three to five scholars the capitation fee should be increased from £6 to £B,and where the average was between six and eight the fee be inceased from £6 to £7. He thought th'is would be more acceptable to the Department. It was desirable that the best teachers possible should be provided for the children in back blocks.

Mr McKenzie: That would hardly be a living wage. At present we have to send the lame and the halt and the blind to teach these children. The secretary (Mr Crowe) : Wa don't send them, but simply approve of their appointments when they apply. (Laughter). Mr Muraray remarked that in New South Wales no teacher received less than £llO in salary. New Zealand should do as much as possible in this direction for the purpose of securing competent people to go into the back country. Not only would the children benefit thereby butthe influence among those isolated communities would be good. Mr Harris said he was pleased that Mr McKenzie' suggestion had been so favourably received. For some years the board had been trying to get this matter on a satisfactory footing. He moved that the chairman and Messrs McKenzie and Murray be deputed to consider the matter in committee and report to the Board at the next meeting. This course wa3 unanimously decided upon.