Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian (Vic. : 1900 - 1942), Saturday 12 May 1917, page 2


[COPY] January 30th, '17. Dear Mr Rouget, As President of the Narbethong State School (3459,) I would call your attention to the very unsatisfactory and unworkable method in which the Department is now working the three State schools in this district, viz.: Buxton, Marys-ville and Narbethong. Until last Spring there were two masters. viz : one for a full-time school at Buxton, and one for a half time school at Marysville and Narbethong. The distances between the schools are approximately - Bux-ton to Narbethong, 10 1/2 miles; Bux-ton to Marysville, 7 miles; Marysville to Narbethong, 7 miles. The atten-dance at Buxton fell too low to war-rant a full-time teacher, and conse-quently one teacher is now employed at one third time to attend to all three schools. The result is that nearly half the parents are arranging for their children to go elsewhere (several at considerable cost for boarding). Under the circumstances it is be-lieved that the time of the master will be practically wasted. Please find out from the Depart-ment just what it costs to keep the present master, including his full travelling allowance, as it is more than likely that parents would con-tribute the extra cost of two female teachers, at say Buxton and Marys-ville, or alternatively would provide a horse and trap for the Narbethong children to travel to Marysville to a full-time school, and for the Buxton children to travel to Taggerty or Marysville, whichever proved most suitable. If you can do this you will mater-ially add to the indebtedness this dis-trict already owes for your offices. Yours very sincerely, (sgd) J. T. N. ANDERSON.