THE BACKBLOCKS TEACHER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81868, 18 October 1906, Page 2

THE BACKBLOCKS TEACHER.

REDUCED TO EUNGUS-PICKING

When school teachers are reduced 10 fungus-picking in order to supplement their miserable stipend and make both ends meet, it is time for New Zealanders to boast that we lead in education, and time for the "heartfelt sympathy" of the Ministry to take some tangible shape. The following application from Mr Weiss, teacher at Mangarna, is eloquent in its brevity. Addressing the Chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, he writes; "In obedience *o the Board's regulations, 1 beg to ask permission to pick fungus after school hours, and also to act as correspondent for a newspaper. The regulations, by the way,provide that "teachers shall not engags in any other occupation without the consent of the Education Board." What a farce the whole thing >eems to be Mr Weiss took up the position of teacher at Mangaroa on the princely salary of £t)o a year. Bad weather and impassable roads reduced the attendance, and his rcmunciation fcli away in consequence to a figure ill the neighborhoood of £(m a year, on the average.. One pound a week for educating the young colonials — truly a magnificent monetary reward, that should attract no end of teachi'isi And this in spite of the fact that the teacher is removed from all the pleasures, conveniences, and advantages of town life. Practically buried in the so.itude of the bush, seas of mud for roads, bread at iod a loaf, flour 16/6 a cwt, and other necessaries of life at similar famine prices, his lot is not an enviable one. No need 10 look further for the cause of the -can ity of male teaclicts. when fungus-picking has to be resuited to in order to keep body and MHII together