EDUCATION IN BACKBLOCKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1920, Page 5

EDUCATION IN BACKBLOCKS.

HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT. SPECIAL TEACHING SERVICE. By Telegraph. —Presr Association. Wellington, Lost, Night. Discussing the provision of teachers for country children in small aided schools, the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) to-day said that the Government felt strongly that children of backbloek settlers should have reasonable educational facilities. The idea of establishing hostels in certain country towns had been discussed. Matrons would be in charge, and children could spend from eight to ten months at the hostel, attending a first-class school/ During this time they would thus receive much better education than at small aided schools. Jle felt, however, that there were objections to this course. Parents probably would not care to lose touch with their childlen of from eight to ten years for so many months. The Government had resolved to giv6 some extra assistance to boards in the matter of backblocks education, said the Minister, and he had asked the officer? of his Department to report on the question of providing a special relieving service, of say, half i dozen teachers for backblocks districts. It would be necessary to give these men fairly good salaries, probably better than they could get in cities ordinarily under their grading. They would be available wherever there was a danger of a school closing, as many were at the present time, owing to tlie want of teachers. They would go out and take over.the work for six or eight months pending the appointment of permanent teachers. Consequently it would be possible to keep the schools open and the children taught. Teachers would not be obliged to remain in special service for more than one year.