BACKBLOCKS TEACHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 57, 6 March 1912, Page 2

BACKBLOCKS TEACHERS.

QUESHOX OF A "LTvLXG" SALARY

A MIXIMUM PROPOSED.

\ discussion of interest to those concerned in t!le master of f-cliool teaching n the backbloeks took place at to-day's m.'Ctini! of the Education Board, when Mr McKenzie moved according to notice ►Thai the time has arrived when aided f . •,.....-. \i£., those in Grade O, shouid be p... lin a more satisfactory position, . . fixing the minimum salary for the ;.:,, nrr- of such schools at not less than £-i i t yp.l r."' I T:,. "mover said the. Board was not >,-;,n-.! in asking the Department to '-, -.) ro the ibackhlocks - schools any out qualified teachers, and therefore it was rl sirabie that, -a salarv adequate to the r.'ouiremer.ts of competent teachers Fi,J»uM be provided. There were 13.-> Wk .-onntrv schools, classed as Grade f, v itii attendances of over 700 children. p, ,v.,m.l to see a beginning made by ■I » Department of Education in the dir. tion of providing a "living" salary. It hi.l been claimed that the allowance of £•; nor head -per child was lrtore than r, ta'incd in anv other country. But the rnn.iitions bore necessitated going still ft; r* he r. Tiio i-'mirman "suggested that the resoI'iti'nn be altered "by providing that in the <-,-,,„ of schools-having an average attendr' i n.-o of from throp to five scholars the cavitation fee should be increased from -i, :<-i £S.and where the average was between =ix and eight the fee be increased r - rom f t ; [o £7. He thought this would •bo more acceptable to the Department Tt was desirable that-the best teachers possible should be provided for the children in barfcH.icks. Mr McKenzie; ThsE "would hardly he ji living wage. At present we ihave to send rho iiuneanil the halt and the blind

to tpiwih these children. The ferret ary (Mr Crowe) : We don't fend them, but simply approve of their ar pointment»iwhen they apply. (Laughtp'.) Mr Murray remarked that in 'New South Wales no teacher received less than £llO in salary. New Zealand F-hnuld do ns much as possible in this direction for the purpose of securing competent people to go into the backcountry. Not only -would the children heir-fit thereby but the influence on these isolated commrmit.ies -would-be pood. Mr Harris said he was pleased that Mr MoKenzie's suggestion -had been so favourably received. For some years the Board had been trying' to get this matter on a satisfactory footing. Ho moved that the chairman and Messrs M-Kenzie and Murray be deputed to consider tine matter in committee and repr,--- to the Board at next meeting. This course was unanimously decided ~T"><i-