BACKBLODKS SCHOOLS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 29 June 1920, Page 4

BACKBLODKS SCHOOLS

(Per Press Association.]

. WELLINGTON, June 28. Discussing the provision of teachers lor country children in small aided schools the Minister of Education to-day said that the Government felt strongly that the children of the- backblocks settlers should have reasonable educational facilities. The idea of establishing hostels in certain country towns had been discussed. Matrons would be in charge and children could spend from eight to ten months at the hostel .attending a first-class school during this time. They would thus receive a much better education than at a, small aided school. He felt, however, that there were objections to this course. Parents probably would not care to lose touch with their children of from eight to ten years of age for so many months. 'I he Government had resolved to give some extra assistance to hoards in the matter of backblocks education, said the Minister, and he had asked the officers of his Department to report on tho question of providing a special service of, say, half a dozen teachers for backblocks districts, ft would be necessary to give (hose men fairly good salaries, probably better than they could get in the cities ordinarily under their grading. They would" be available wherever there was danger of a school closing, as many were at the present time, owing to want of teachers. They would go out and take over the work tor six or eight months, pending the appointment of permanent. teachers, consequently it would be possible to keep the schools open and the children taught. Teachers would not be obliged to remain in the special service for more than one year.