BACK-BLOCKS SCHOOLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 16

BACK-BLOCKS SCHOOLS.

WELLINGTON, Julv 28. Asked to-day at the New Zealand .Farmers’ Union Conference if it was correct that the Education Department proposed to abolish the allowance paid to children riding to school on horseback over roads that were impassable by vehicles, Mr T. B. Strong (Director of Education) said that such a step was contemplated. The department expended £75,000 a year on allowances for children travelling to school. Ten years ago the cost was £25,000.

With regard to a remit advocating the taking of steps to alter the system under which the parents of pupils were called upon to contribute towards the salaries of teachers (board and lodging) in backblocks districts, the director, in explaining the department’s attitude, said that the consolidation of schools in New Zealand was still in the experimental stage. There was no doubt that by that means better educational facilities were provided. The cost of consolidation at the present time was so exceedingly high that it was questionable whether they were not better off financially under the old system. The Education Act. added Mr Strong, provided that where the number of school children was less than nine a household school could be established by the Education Board. The Act also provided that in such cases the parents of pupils could be called upon to supplement the salary of the teacher by means of a board-and-lodging allowance. If parents were unable to do that, then correspondence schools were at the disposal of their children, and, in his- opinion, there was not the slightest doubt that a child could receive an excellent education by correspondence. An improvement had taken place during recent years in respect to tiie staffing of country schools. That had been brought about not so much by reason of the allowance as by giving preference to teachers who had served in the country. When promotion was being made the number of uncertified teachers had been very considerably reduced.

The conference later carried a remit protesting against the proposal of the department to abolish the allowance paid to "children riding to school on horseback over roads',that were impassable by . vehicles.