THE COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9023, 8 February 1895, Page 6

THE COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS.

TO TUB EDITOR OF THE PKKSS. Slß,—ls it not time that the Educational Board or Minister took into consideration the question of books for the pupils ? The complaints are so universal about; thb cost, or necessity of so many being required every term that it ie, in my opinion, high time a stop trae put to the eystem now in vogue by allowing, if ib is so, any schoolmaster or mistress to formulate or require what books are required by certain classes, independent of the Board of Education's instructions in reference thereto, if they, the Board, have such instruction. If the Board do not exert any authority in reference to books andclass instruction, &c, a very grave error is being committed by such incompetent supervising. The cost of pupils' books has become of an excessive nature, and that, together with the question of the utility of at least oue-half tho matter being taught by the present school syeteni, must make matters soon come to a bead. I, as an interested party, i.e., having children attending the State schools, after a cool examination-of tho cost and utility and system of the education as now erdered and taught in the Government State schools, consider it far too costly for the results. The books are excessive, and far too lavishly altered to any or no system, just higgledy-piggledy, anyhow, at the whim or order of any new idea or master or mistress. The present education now taught ie for two-thirds of the pupils of a nearly ueeless nature as far as the practice of tho world and modern , life is concerned, the other third being engaged in learning how to keep up tho fraud and sham of the system probably are benefited largely. 1 beg therefore most humbly, or otherwise, to deplore the excessive cast of our present education and its totally use}c33 nature for up-to-date or modern practical life, and industry, and living.—Youre, &0., • A New ZeAlandeb. February 7th.