UNIFORM SCHOOL BOOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 43, 19 February 1908, Page 5

UNIFORM SCHOOL BOOKS.

EDUCATION BOARD DISCUSSION. THE PRINCIPLE APPROVED. The oft-debated question of uniformity of school books throughout the Dominion was before the Education Board to-day, when a circular letter was received from the Inspector-General of Schools, stating that the Minister of Education would be glad to know whether, in the opinion of the Board and of the inspectors, it was desirable or feasible to have uniform school books in all the public schools of the Dominion, especially whether there should be one uniform series of reading books in all the education districts. Reporting on this matter, Mr. D. Petrie. M.A., stated that the inspectors had considered the question, and decided to advise the Board that they favoured uniformity in reading bocks and in school books generally. The Chairman of the Board (Mr. L. J. Bagnall) expressed the belief that a great deal more had been made of the changes in school books than was really warranted. Mr. G. J. Garland: Don't you believe itThe Chairman: I happen to know that ' there have been no changes in this district for eight years, so that there eoiaa not have been so many alterations. Personally, he thought it desirable that there might be uniformity throughout ; the Dominion, to a certain extent, but he ! believed it w>ould be possible to carry it so far that it would be a danger to edu- j cation in the long run. It was a mistake ! in education to try and have everything! on a dead level. Uniformity left no scope for variety, and tended to bring everybody down to a dead level of mediocrity, a thing to be avoided. He did not think that the matter should be so fixed that there would be no chance of change. If teachers, pupils, or parents chose to have additional books of any kind they should j not be prevented from having them, so that there might be something to lift them from the dead level which must lead to mediocrity and inferiority. There was a great deal in having books which were up to date and suitable for the Dominion. Many imported books were not suitable for the Southern Hemisphere. They were written for the north, and tended to give a. false impression. If only certain books were allowed in the : schools and no others it might save a ! few shillings, but at present it was only j the children who moved from school to school who were affected, finding dif- ! ferent books at the new school to thaT which they had just left. It was the : expenditure which people grumbled about, there being no ground for com- I plaint about frequent unnecessary j changes. Wnen committees had complained during the last few years of | changes the Board asked what changes I had been referred to and invariably there had been no reply, because there had been no changes, it was true that different teachers chose different books,! and thus children who moved were affected. He moved that the inspector's report be forwarded to the Department. Mr. J. D. said that in the country districts the newspapers were used at the reading lessons. Mr. Garland said that he had strong feelings on the school book question. The Chairman: They are based on a misapprehension. Mr. Garland: No. on financial facts. Mr. Edgecumbe: Don't touch financial facts, because I don't think there is much in that. Mr. Garland: I have had to pay. Children move within the city as well as j to different parts of the Dominion, and ; it is a great hardship to have to buy i different books for five or six children. I I believe the Government should print j books, and supply them at actual cost, i Mr. H. J. Greenslade, M.P.: I think the books should be supplied absolutely free; all education should be absolutely free. Mr. Bagnall: It would cost more to print the books in New Zealand than to import them. The motion was then adopted.