TUITION OF BACKBLOCKS' CHILDREN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 January 1929, Page 4

TUITION OF BACKBLOCKS' CHILDREN.

| Carrying the advantage's of education I into remote homes in the back blocks of j New Zealand, the Correspondence School maintained by the Education Department is successfully performing a ‘ very useful work. The results achieved haive been most; gratifying, and the school has fully justified i.t!» existence. The school was established in. February, 1922, by Mr J. Caughley, then Director of Education, the scheme being modelled on. a similar service; in operation in Victoria. Many doubts wore expressed at the time as to the wisdom of the course, and it is only now that | its full value is being realised. The 1 school has the definite object of touching by correspondence those children whose homes are 'so remote that even an aided school is impracticable:. Instruction is given in the full primary school course, a staff of thirteen teachers being engaged for the purpose. As in the ordinary correspondence school, the work i/ posted to: the. child, full instructions being enclosed. After completing the work, the child posts it to' Wellington, where the “school” is located, and the work is there corrected. Copies of all work are kept and it is

staled that these in the majority of easels show a remarkable record; of progress. The work even extends to l the conducting of examinations. Prom a modest beginning, the school has grown ! rapidly. For some time the “attendance” was limited strictly to 500, but it was found impossible to keep iit at this figure and the roll number is now 720. So successful has the scheme been that it is now proposed to carry the work through to a secondary department, which will be opened in February. Children gaining their Standard 6 I certificates- may then carry straight on with a post-primaTy course. No charge iis made for any instruction given and the secondary school work will also- be free to the holders of certificates. An j interesting development in the work is , the publication of an annual magazine, “The Postman.” The first number is an attractive little booklet containing many items of interest to pupils- and expupils .of the school. All the matter is contributed by the children, while ex-pupils are kept in touch by short notes regarding the activities of each. !