WAR SCARCITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 2, 3 January 1941, Page 6

WAR SCARCITY.

SCHOOLS AFFECTED.

STATIONERY, BOO'KS.

DIFFICULT YEAR AHEAD.

Dwindling supplies of eehool stationery and text-books are likely to create a problem in many schools and colleges when the first term opens next month. The year is expected to be one in which teachers, pupils and parents will become increasingly paper-con-scious, and an all-roiind effort to reduce the quantity of paper*used was foreshadowed to-day by various Auckland headmasters.

"The great difficulty thie year will b,e to procure sufficient exercise book;*, notebooks aifd other paper," said Mr. J. W. McGechie, headmaster of the Parnell School. "There were large increases in prices last year, and the scarcity was already becoming acute in various directions before the holidaj s. Waste of every kind will have to be eliminatedand that is not an easy, matter where large numbers of children are concerned, but they will have to be educated into making the most of all paper that is unable." Low Standard of Textbooks. Mr. McGechie stated that [taper was an , essential right down to the lower clasees and this also involved large numbers of pencils and steel nibs for pens. 80mo of these needs, which had heen provided by the schools in the past, would probably have to be bought by the children under the changed conditions brought about by tl:e war.

Textbooks for the primary schools •should be sufficient to meet requirements, as they were mostly published in New Zealand, he continued, but there still remained the old complaint against the books in standard use in the schools of the Dominion. Since these books were adopted 1:2 or ]'■> years ago they had never been regarded as natisfaetory, and their deficiencies were a serious handicap in the teaching of arithmetic, English, geography and history. The exercises included were insufficient in number, which made it necessary for the teachers to provide additional tests on the blackboards or by the u«=e of duplicators. Either method took much .time

and did not entirely overcome the trouble. Much of the English, history and geography material was not attractively presented. In the country districts it was essential that the textbooks should be a full and complete interpretation of the syllabus, for the teachers generally were less experienced than those in the towns and cities, and had more classes under their charge. Textbook is "Teacher's Bible." "The textbook is the country techer's Bible," declared Mr. McGechie, "and with the bookrs now in use the work is definitely suffering. It is nine years since the Headmasters' Association drew the Government's attention to the position and it has been generally understood that the preparation of new books was begun two or three years ago, but nothfng definite has been announced. Therefore, we cannot expect to have them for at least another year."

That exercise books would be Sinaller, and that second-hand text books would have to be used to a greater extent, was the view expressed by Mr. F. A. Garry, headmaster of the Northcote Junior High School. He said that not all schools would be affected to the same extent by the shortage this year. Some had made provision to meet their requirements, but the quantity of paper would be somewhat, reduced. In the supply of exercise books the size was being modified to keep down to the popular price of 6d or less. He was opposed to the use of loose paper in the schools because of the waste.

In anticipation of a shortage of text books some schools had taken early steps to collect used books from pupils leaving last year, stated Mr. Garry. The greatest difficulty would be in obtaining sufficient books on literature, mathematics and languages, which were imported. grammar School's Position. "Paper is the dearest I have ever known," said Mr. P. W. Gamble, headmaster of the Mount Albert Grammar School. "Strict economies will have to be enforced, and ftiore paper of the cheaper grade will have to be used. The special exercise books and notebooks, with good binding and covers, which have been in use for science and other purposes, will . have to be replaced by substitutes reduced in size."

Mr. Gamble said Mount Albert Grammar School boys were required to provide 3/ a term, or 9/ a year to cover the cost of stationery. This meant a total expenditure on stationery for the school of between £200 and £300 a year. The quantity would have to be greatly .curtailed if an advance in the fee was to be avoided.

An even more serious aspect, he continued, was the exceptional rise in the price of sporty, requirements, which in the past had been covered by a contribution of 2/ a term by each boy. It might be possible to augment this sum by special efforts; otherwise cricket, football and hockey activities would suffer. Cricket bats and other needs had increased enormously in price as a result of the war.

Imported text books should be arriving in New Zealand in quantity at the present time, eaid a representative of a firm of booksellers, but shipments so far were light, and the position was rather obscure. It was not expected that the prices would be much advanced on the rises which took place last year.