CHILDREN DENIED EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20090, 20 November 1930, Page 17

CHILDREN DENIED EDUCATION.

AN OTAGO CASE. [THE PRESS Special Serrice.} DUNEDIN, November 19. That some young people arc still growing up in the Dominion without being able to read or write was shown by a discussion at the meeting of the Otago Education Board to-day, when the Hon. D. T. Fleming, M.L.C., mentioned the case of a family approaching young manhood and womanhood without having been to any school. Mr Fleming said a conveyance cotild not approach within a mile and a half of the house. Education- by correspondence had been recommended, but had been declined. It was a case of which the Board should see what could be done, although the Board itself could not take any direct action. "Thi=- case has been before us for six or seven years," said the chairman (Mr J. Wallace), "and surprise has been expressed that there should be families in N w Zealand whose education has been n jlected as in this case. I was told that possibly the house would be shifted, but that has not been done." He had heifrd, he added, that the children had joined the correspondence class, but was now told that they had not taken advantage of it. According to his information the eldest girl could write her Christian name, but not her surname. When the Director of Education (Mr T. B. Strong) had been in Dunedin he had promised to look into the matter and advise later. It seemed to the chairman to be an almost impossible case. The father's fellow-settlers were so incensed that they had agreed to contribute towards the formation of a road near the place, so that the father could be brought within the penal clauses of the Education Act. The Board and the Education Department had done their best. [ It was decided to bring the matter before the Minister for Education when he visits Dunedin.