BACK-BLOCKS TEACHERS.

Thames Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 10566, 12 June 1907, Page 2

BACK-BLOCKS TEACHERS.

At the meeting of the Otago Country Schools Committees!' Association, a question of more than, common interest to somei of the smaller country di«r trietel Was raised^—-namely, the time limit for resident teachers. One member contended that in the back-blocks the schoolmaster' was ©dcasionally a veritable Rip Van Winkle, who had ■been soundly asleep in regard to many matters of ...vital interest, this twenty yearn _ On tihe othea^ hand, some of the^ districts were as well served by their pedagogues as the town centres themselves. There was. a lot of luck attached to it. -He advocated a, time limit, setting forth the maximum • number of years during which; any teacher could remain in any one localjty.,. v "The trouble is," he said. "that a man who> started ijiy .the second-class .pets hold of a. position and makes .a ..ljfe.. job of it. .His*; particular idiosynoracies get crafted on..the children who pass, through liis hands, and the result is not a-lwavs such a® one could give am unqualified Amen' to. A maximum period of service in one place ought most certainly to bes fixed." The general view of the meeting seemed to favour the proposition. - : .