FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7831, 25 June 1909, Page 4

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

WELLINGTON, June 24. Energetic efforts have been made in some quarters to discount the Government's scheme for the supply of free school books to Standards I. and 11., the Auckland Education Board in particular being anxious to secure a larger grant. " It lias been circularising other Education Boards, suggesting that the Minister of Education has used his authority to nullify a plain provision of the Legislature, It has been the rule for a number of years, states the circular, that two reading books in addition to the School Journal should be used, but the grant had been made upon the supposition that only a single reader and tjie School Journal were necessary to give a good training in reading. It was necessary that an extra book should be purchased, but the Minister had created an impossible position by requiring a certificate -that the parents had not been asked to buy any additional book. It was suggested . that joint representations should be made to the Minister to have a more reasonable pourse of action pursued.- Mr Fleming, chief inspector, informed the Wellington Education Board yesterday that tl}e inspectors agreed wjth the circular in that all children should have more than two reading books, but they did not agree that the third book should be a miscellaneous reader. What they provided in Wellington wero fairy stories of various kinds and continuous readers, suph as stories of a little more difficulty, for the older children. In Standards I. and 11. miscellaneous readers cost lOd or Is, but the continuous reading could be bought for a penny up to eightpence. These served the classes just as well as the miscellaneous readers. Mr G. L. Stewart, secretary, said the grant would ordinarily cover the chief inspector's requirements. This year the Board re--1 ioved storekeepers of their stocks, which was not buying to the best commercial advantage, while the neglect of some teachers to promptly notify the Board of their purchases resulted ' in over-supplies from England. However, there would be a surplus for next year. The grant would be £406, while this year's expenditure was likely to reach £440 or £450, but next year it would be within the grant, The Board

had not selected the cheapest books, but the best. It was decided to reply to the Auckland Board in terms of the officers' statements.