BACKBLOCKS' DISABILITIES

Taihape Daily Times, 12 October 1917, Page 4

BACKBLOCKS' DISABILITIES

CHILDREN TAUGHT UNDER DIFFICULTIES, At the meeting of. the Wanganui Education Board on Wednesday, the difficulties attending the education of the children in the back-blocks -was brought under the notice of the Board by Mr. A. J. Joblin. The first case Mr. Joblin referred to was that of 14 to 16 children in the Upper Turakina district, who were taught in a room 24 feet by 10, the lean-to of a hall, with a ceiling so low that the speaker declared he had no difficulty ill touching it with his hand when he stood up. An iron roof made the, conditions very bad in summer. There was no ventilation or drainage. The environment was wretched. He considered the children should be taken out of it. The chief inspector (Mr. T. B. Strong) admitted, that the conditions were not satisfactory, but considered the hall could be used instead of the lean-to. Mr. Joblin said that both the teachers who had tried the hall saTo* it was nearly as bad, in any case the Board would soon have to face the position. A building, was being* used which did not belong to the Board, and for which no rent was being paid. The building was, and had been for the past few years most unsuitable. To illustrate what happens when matters are allowed to stand over and drift, lie cited the case of the Moawhango school, where for 20 years the children had been taught in a stable, with horses occupying the same building at the same time. With regard to future requirements a new building was more than justified. Three near residents and old, well-settled farmers had 21 children between them —Mr. R. Davis, 8, Mr. H. Harris 7, and Mr T. C. Revell 6. Here was the filling of a school in itself and there were other families besides. There was a! very good piece of land (about 10 acres of reserve) which the Commissioner of Lands was willing to transfer to the Board as a future school site if the "Board would apply to the Department for a grant. The residents had expressed their willingness to do their part by fencing in and preparing the new site for the school. He moved that the Board apply to the Land Board for the site, and to the Education Department for a grant to build a new school.

Mr. Collins seconded the motion, which Avas carried unanimously, the chief inspector being asked to support the recommendation.

Another case of educational hardship Mr. Joblin referred to concerned a settler's family who lived 5£ miles from a school. The eldest of the children, aged nine, had not as yet seen a school. One suggestion was that a conveyance should be provided for the children.

The chairman explained in regard to conveying children to schools that 6d a day per pupil was allowed, and the Government also gave a £ for £ subsidy towards any money subscribed for the purpose. Eight or ten children were conveyed to the Feilding School under the arrangement.