UNIFORM SCHOOL BOOKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 133, 28 February 1908, Page 4

UNIFORM SCHOOL BOOKS.

DISCUSSION BY THE EDUCATION BOARD. REPORT 15Y THE INSPECTORS. At yesterday's meeting of tho Wellington Education Board, consideration was given to the inspector's report upon tho following letter which, somo time previously, bad been received from tlio Inspector-General of Schools, Mr. G. Hogben:— , "Tho Minister for Education would

bo glad to know whether, in tho opinion of your Board and of the inspectors of : schools, it is desirable or feasible to have uniform books in all _tho public schools of : tho Dominion) specially whether there i should be ono uniform series of reading , books in all the education districts." '' VIEWS OP THE INSPECTORS.

' Mr. T. 11. Fleming, M.A.,. LL.B. (scnioi inspector under tlio Education Board), read the roport of the inspectors,' as follows: — . " Thb unifoi'mity of school books for'the Dominion is desirable, if the series of books aro changed at such frequent intervals as would obviate't-ho-possibility, .of the school work —more especially in English—becoming stereotyped in form-and in' spirit. Uniformity would confer certain benefits in the ipatter of classification, and -would meet the particular cases of children moving from one district to. another, although, •in the. matter of ? general- expense, tho advantago gained woliTd probably be a slight oiie. "The feasibility, of such a chango would depend largely on tho- arrango'monts that could be mado with publishing firmsj and-it would bo neccssary to exorciso considerable caro lest a virtual .monopoly, should he granted to one firm, which would "not' conduce that excellence of quality and reduction in cost that aro so largely conditioned by open competition ■''~ <: *- - Wo should like to note one exception to the. above, which lias reference 1 to: tho supplementary text-books in English for' -the upper standards. We -have been recommending ; our ..teachers . to prescribe English classics for tlicso ' classes. As excellent editions of the best English writers can now. he obtained at prices ranging from ljd. to 6d., the additional expquso entailed would-be very small, and as tho'best results in instruction of this kind can only be obtained when a teacher takes a classic lie'is deeply interested in; and fully acquainted WO i sllould - .sorry* to. interfore. with the ,freedom of'choice' of teachers iu the selection of such books. " AVit-h regard r tp. the .question of tlio-pub-lication of unjform school books by the Government, as indicated in a resolution of the Masterton School Committeo — ' That the Hon. Minister bo respectfully urged to provide uniform school books for all schools, and- oausb -tho-same- to 'be - sold to- parents at cost, prico'—wo are not.in.favour of ask-ing-tha. Government' to publish literary' and other text-bookb used in tlio schools.' ,Quess.tions. of .'copyright; illustrations, etc., would placo the cost out of all proportion ,to the benefits derived, whilo tho selection; of the literary matter, and tho arrangement of mattor, and tho mot-hod Jn tho other text-books would bo so narrowed as - to. bo contrary to the spirit of freedom how so much emphasised m tho new education." - iWo further consider that the matter, of parents is one largely exaggerated. V\|rth a reasonable restriction on tho part of the: Board as to the -number of text-books to bo used in a school, and somo salutary insistence on tho. care to bo bestowed on tho books by tho children, tlio annual oxpenso to parents should not bo suph as to call for special legislation. Individual cases of hardship to parents will undoubtedly occur, but wo think it would bo bettor to meet such cases ,by a special consideration—such •as subsidies to committees—than evon t-o-risk injuring the .efficiency of -our education system by; vmoa-suros ; . of: such doubtful utility,"-' - . .- '■■--.•v. 1 ; - .'thei)iscl*ssio\.

_. Mr.' A. H. Vilo set tho. ball rolling' by mov-ing^:—-That, this Board, is of opinion'that a uniform system of. school books, .if subject ( to sucn clianges as circumstances necessitate, would be in tho. b'est : interests• of education?' ; Tho. mover, referral to the, great hardship frequently caused through ,different.,sbooks' being used; in tho various education districts. Ho, was;strongly; of: opinion ■ that there' should bo a .uniform set- of class : books in uso throughout the , schools -of, tho .Dominion.! Variations in school books were even known ito exist among ■ schools -within the samo 1 education district.

Mr. W- C. Buchanan, in seconding the' motion pro .forma,thought it might bo better if further'c'onsidefation of this question were; adjourned, ■ in. yiow of the fact that several members of the Board were absent..

Mr. J., Kcbbell moved that tho matter bo postponed until the nest meeting. . Mr.;Aitkon seconded. . Mr. A. W. Hogg; M.8., opposed any postponement^/a'; question- of such' moment. There wore important issues involved, 'and there were enough members present for the wholo question' to be " threshed''out i.;Th'o motion for postponement was, howover, put, and carried.