THE SCHOOLMASTER'S LOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9176, 27 August 1908, Page 4

THE SCHOOLMASTER'S LOT.

The vagaries of the present system of roll-making in public schools and the results that attend the close relationship between the average weekly attendance and the schoolmaster's salary are well illustrated by the experience of a school in Central Otago. When the recent heavy fall of snow took place a considerable area of country, right in the middle of that which was covered by some feat of snow, suffered only an unusual dowpoyr of rain. Although the roads were in a bad state, people moved about freely, and the schoolmaster was able to keep his school open. The other schoolmasters throughout the district, who were virtually snowed in, promptly closed down. The teacher referred to has some 44 children attending his school, but during the bad weather his average dwindled to about 22.5. He kept the flag flying, however, ! until improved weather conditions allowed the full number of pupils to return to school. Now that teacher learns that, despite the fact that he did not close down, his salary and the status of his school will probably suffer in consequence of his low average attendance during some weeks. Those teachers, on the other hand, who closed their schools, and received an unexpected holiday during the time it was impossible for the majority of their pupils to attend school, find that their salaries are not liable to a dei-rease, or their schoolp , brought nearer the possibility of being shifted into a lower grade.