CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25549, 17 July 1948, Page 2

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

ADDRESS ’TO EDUCATIONAL UNION “In creating a faint blueprint for [peace, there is one mission more important than any other, so far as the ifutiire is concerned,” wrote a foreign of the “Saturday Even- • ing Post” who was sent to the Ameriicanj zone in Germany to report on conditions and politico of the Germans' 1 there. In his article, headed “A Faint •Blueprint for Peace,” he continues: | “Our only real hope for peace in the future is wrapped up in the future of I the children and adolescents of Ger•many. We must win them, if we are ito win peace. We are not doing much win the German children and adolescents. The rather shocking fact is that only one-third of 1 per cent, of our' German occupation budget of 302,000.000 dollars—or 1,006,000 dollars —is expended for education. In their zone, the Russians have printed 10 new textbooks for each child, the French have printed seven a child, the British four, and the Americans one and a half. From here out, it seems clear that we must devote more time, money, thought—and paper, too—to the children and adolescents of Germany. For if we lose them and the chance of peace with them, we also shall probably lose the free world we inherited from our forefathers.”

This quotation was used by Mrs Norton Francis in an address on children’s books written by her for the monthly meeting of the Parents’ Naitional Educational Union and read yesterday by Mrs Algar Williams. Mrs Francis enunciated four points on which parents should satisfy themselves in providing books for children. iThey were: (1) Is the book written in good English? (2) Can it be read aloud with pleasure? (3) Are the pictures clear and well drawn? (4) Will the subject hurt the child’s mind? She strongly advised parents—fathers as well as mothers—to read aloud to children and to teach children to love and take care of books. Miss Lettice Loughnan submitted the result of inquiries made by her among school children up to 13 years of age. Of their preference in books she found that the old favourites, beloved by the parents, were still most popular. Mrs Douglas Anderson presided at, the meeting which was held at the home of Mrs George Francis (Desmond street), and Mrs G. Francis and Mrs Booghmans were hostesses. It was decided that the branch should become a corporate member of the Canterbury Immigration Association.