FREE SCHOOL BOOKS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1189, 26 July 1911, Page 5

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS

GRANTS FOR UPPER CLASSES.' At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday, the Chief Inspector, Sir. T. R. Fleming, reporting on the Education Department's proposals for the expenditure of' the free books grant for tho ensuing year, stated that the Department proposed

to make grants for free books for Standards V and VI, at the rate of Bs. per head of tho average attendance. The books, stated the inspector, must include a miscellaneous reader, a supplementary reader of more or less continuous character (not being a geographical reader), an arithmetic book, an atlas, a geographical reader (or reference book on geography), and a historical reader. It was provided that the board may, except in necessitous cases, and in cases where a newly-entered pupil had already purchased a different miscellaneous reader for tho standard, require- pupils in all or any of tho schools in the district to purchase the miscellaneous reader, if. in lieu of providing such readers free, the board expended a portion of the grant in the purchase of paper used in school for school purposes instead of slates. It was provided, further, that at least an equal sum bo spent out of tho school fund of any school where such paper is provided. These last provisos, Mr. Fleming pointed out, were important. Shortly, they amounted to this:'lf the miscellaneous reader were not purchased, the unexpended portion of the grant should be used for the purchase of paper used in place of slates, on condition that an equal amount be spent on the same material bv tho committee.

"The committee would be asked to spend additional money—they have not enough for present purposes," remarked Mr. J. G. W. Aitken.

Mr. Fleming, continuing, thought that tho position was capable of being satisfactorily dealt with. He submitted the following report, which had been drafted after a consultation with the headmasters:—

"That in accordance with the proviso all pupils be required to purchase themiscellaneous reader, provided that in cases where a special request is made by the School Committee the miscellaneous reader may be provided free.

"That in lieu of providing the miscellaneous reader free the board adopt some such principle of supplying paper or stationery as suggested by the Department. "That in addition to the 'Southern Cross Arithmetic Hooks' at present in u;o, the upper standards may bo allowed the use of another book, not to exceed Is. in cost, of a suitable character.

"That tho 'Southern Cross' and 'Collins's' Atlases bo recommended for Standard V and VI, for the history text books in Standards V and VI,, Xelson's 'Highroads of History' (Xos. 5, G, and 7)." For the continuous reader it was recommended (hat selections might be made from such as the following :-"The Talisman," "Ivanhoe," "Qucntin Durward," "Westward Ho!" "David Copporfidld," "The Christmas Carol," "Silas Marner," "Deeds that Won the Empire," etc. "That as the present miscellaneous readers (Longman's "British Empire") have been in use for upwards of five years, we consider that the time has coino for a change, and wo recommend the adoption of Whitcombo and Tombs's new series, entitled 'The Pacific Readers.' "That as the, 'Southern Cross Geographical Reader' (.Standards V and VI) is in use in many schools, its uso may bo continued for iho present, but that for largo schools, where, an application is made, by the teacher, another geographical reader or reference book (to be selected later) may be allowed." The report was adopted, and certain matters of detail referred to the executive officers of the board to be dealt with,