FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 332, 20 October 1908, Page 10

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

A BEGINNING. . The following circular memorandum hail been forwarded .by the Education Department to' the-district boards of education :-r----"For the purchase of certain school-books" for free distribution to children attending the public. schools a-grant ,\vill. early next year- be : made to each education board? for use under the following conditions(l) .'The grant will be for the calendar year 1909, 'and will be at the rate of—6d.. per head on the roll of-the preparatory classes; Is. 3d. per head oil the roll, of the SI classes ; Is. Gd.. per head on the roll of the S2 classes. The roll numbers at the end of the current year'will be the basis of the confutation. (2) From January 1, 1909; -no/pupils of the classes named are to .be required to buy any text-books. (3) The books may be selected by the' board, out .'of .tho list authorised by-, the .Gdverrior-in-Uouncil.' * (4) -The .grant may. • also -be used for • tho - purchase of supplementary readers for the..use.'of;tlie classes named, such'readers' to. be previously approved by the Minister. (5) ;'l'he .balance, if any, may be spent either in. the purchase of some of tho books for S3, - or: in chasing approved'books' for classJibraries suitable for the home-reading of children in. classes SI and 52.. (G) No portion of tho grant is to be spent for any other purpose than those named herein.' (7) Tho question as. to which books may be taken home by the children; and when, is left to ■ the discretion of the board, but it is hot anticipated that the grant for these classes .in. :any future year will be sufficient to provide .a new set of books . each year,, but merely sufficient to enable tho _ board to renew the supply at rcasonabjo intervals,- and to meet Wear and tear. (8) At the end of the year the board is to make a return of the books purchased. Requests, for tho approval of books other than those on the prescribed list, whether. for use as ordinary readers, for. supplementary readers, or for class libraries should be accompanied by copies of the books.".