MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 541, 23 June 1909, Page 9

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

WILL NOT RETRENCH THE "SCHOOL JOURNAL." (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Chrlstchurch, June 22. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds, Minister for Education, arrived 1 from Wellington by. the Maori this morning, and lott for Dunedin by the first express. When Been by a reporter, Sir. Fowlds said his visit to the South was principally connected ' with . the opening of toe Knox Residential College at Dunedm. "• . ■ • .' .•'-. .. In answer to the mention of a rumour that the "School Journal" was to be discontinued, as , part of the scheme of retrenchment, the-Minister said that he had heard nothing of such a move. It was not intended that the 'jotirnal should be stopped, The journal was an essential part of the educational system, because of tho large amount, of varied, reading ■ matter it provided .at email cost. .... ".

" Mr. Fowlds ;said that he thought matters were looking very hopeful for the Chair of Domestic Science at the Otago University. The Department had been giving the matter attention, and. a syllabus of work' for diplomas and 'degrees had been sketched. The work was Wing based on the model 6f various universities of. - " America that had Chairs of the sanie description. It was a very desirable 1 thing that the Dominion should have such a it would be especially valuable in training teachers and creating greater interest .in '■that, special kind of, work which was important to tho whole of Now. Zealand. ■)..'' . ■'-'■■■'■ ' Mr. Fowlds will open the Knox. Resided tial Theological College,. Dunedin, on Wednesday; and Kβ will remain in "the south in connection with Departmental matters until Friday. wben,he will rrtnrn to Christchurch.: Ho will stfl.v in Christcburch all day on Saturday, and will leave that night "for .Wellington. .-..:. ■;.'.. ■:.■ , . ' , .•.■■'

"■ : . : frh? school books. . ,:. (By Telegraph.-PressAssociatfon.l . : ■'■'„■.' ■■"'■•'■; .•.'•- DMnedin, June 22. The Hon. G. Fowlds, interviewed by a •'Daily Times" reporter to-night, answered the obj&tipns of the Otago and Auckland Education Boards to the Departmental grant for freo reading books for preparatory classes and Standards landll as to the. condition that pupils of ijhe classes' named are to be required to buy any text.books. ; The Minister trarersed the contentions of both boards, and concluded by saying: "Our contention is this: that the.use of free readine books of,a non-contiguous, charaoter is nut in the best .interests of.,good reading.: -, Further, that the grant is adequate to .supply sufficient and suitable reading matter, in Standards I and 11, and that,it.has been tried ; under business conditions by,-a good many of the boards, with, the result,that the contentions of the Department., have been justified by their •experience.", : i.; ; v . ,• "