BACKBLOCKS EDUCATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1918, Page 5

BACKBLOCKS EDUCATION.

NEW SYSTEM IN WESTERN ; AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, July 10. The Government of West Australia has adopted a system-.of teaching bycorrespondence the children in the ; baekblooks where the population is 'so scattered that the establishment of a school is not practicable. The plan has been in operation • for some little time in New South Wales and Victoria,, and has been attended by a, good deal of success. It is considered that, one teacher in a central position, can in this way give tuition to 30 or -10 clubbvn. Children are enrolled at from five to 16 years of age, and in anygrnoo. Parents and elder children are expected, where possible,' to supervise the work of these students, and the experience in, both States in thin respect has been a happy one; the children receive considerable assistance from their elders. The *j isohool year is divided into three terms, each of 11 weeks, and the subjects- for each grade are divided into sets of two weeks' work, provi-'. vision being also made for the revision of work and for examination. ~'■ The children are expected .to work to a time-table, and a.s each beginner is enrolled the work is set-out clearly and forwarded every fort- ■■'-. night. The Education Department in each of the two States mention- ■' ed-has sent to West Australia sets > . of works and time-tables. "None but a well qualified teacher is suitable to carry out this work," said one Minister, "and it ' . is necessary to offer suitable remuneration, but when it is remembered that in those localities where it Ist possible to etablish the smallest 'of schools.the cost per child taught is * about .£2O per annum, it will be •! . oalised that the. n«w scheme is comparatively economical',', since the cost [• ', head is considerably le™is than the general average tlnxiughout the States of £7 per head."