RURAL SCHOOLS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24750, 15 December 1945, Page 8

RURAL SCHOOLS

♦ IMPROVED HOUSING SCHEME DESIRED

The Education Department will be urged to embark on a programme of house-building at rural schools to provide for head and sole teachers and married assistants. This was resolved by .the Canterbury Education Board, which met yesterday. Maintenance and renovation of existing school houses should be speeded up, stated the resolution, to bring the housing accommodation at rural schools into line with housing standards in the cities. Another resolution passed by the board was that preference be given to married men in the appointment of head and sole teachers in rural schools which are provided with houses, and that consideration be given, to .the modification of the regulations’ governing the appointment of teachers to facilitate the preference. Most of the problems of country teaching would bo solved if the housing problem was disposed of, said Mr W. T. Langley. Interest in adult education, vocational training centres, agricultural clubs, and country library services in country districts was urged in a report by the chairman of the appointments committee (Mr A. E. Lawrence). The object was to bring teachers and people closer together, to promote more adequate education facilities and to create a more active community spirit.

The report was adopted by the board.