King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11, 1912 BACK BLOCK SCHOOLS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 499, 11 September 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11, 1912 BACK BLOCK SCHOOLS.

1 The man who goes with his family ! into the back blocks of a new district to establish a home, and woo from the virgin soil those products which constitute the real wealth of the country is frequently referred to as the hardy pioneer. Later on, when by dint of unremitting toil, and tho sacrifice of many of the pleasures and refinements of civilisation, he has transformed the wilderness into farm land, he is sometimes called tho back ¥ bone of tho country. What measure ' of sacrifice is inflicted on tho family during the pioneering stage it is impossible to estimate. One of tho great compensations to the settler is the knowledge that under tho education system of the Dominion special efforts are usually made to provide education facilities for tho back blocks chlidren. While admitting that much is done in this respect wo have no hesitation in saying that closer and more sympathetic attention to tho back block districts would result in the amelioration of present hardship. A visit to tho Tangitu district is sufficient to bring conviction to the most hardened sceptic that improvements can be made which will operate for the benefit of all concerned. The Mokaii-iti school js still conducted, in the third year of its existence, in a tent without ovon a floor to add a little comfort to tho institution. Efforts have been made by tho settlers to induce the board to orect a timber structure, but hitherto without result. When it is stated that children of school ago, numbering close on fifty, reside in the district it will be recognised that no excuse can exist for the delay. 'Tis true the timber for the building will roquire to be pit Bawn, and the iron for tho roo? packed on horses, but it should be remembered that if the cost is a little more than it would bo in town centres it is for the bare essentials, and not for y* luxuries that it is being incurred. f The spectacle of children sitting shivering in a rain soaked tent, with a sodden floor under foot, endeavouring to assimilate tho knowledge which is imparted to town children under strikingly different conditions, is not inspiring. Small wonder tho attendance rolls suffer in winter. It is tu be sincerely hoped the Education Board will take action to remedy the mmi«r