SCHOOL BOOKS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3079, 9 May 1917, Page 13

SCHOOL BOOKS

4 . A MUCH DISCUSSED TOPIC THE MINISTER'S VIEWS A demand was made by the householders at some of their meetings held for the election of school committees for the standardising of school books, and even for tho supply of books freo to scholars. A very full statement of the case, as it presents itself to the Department, was given by tho Minister of Education, in' reply to a question in the House last year. Mr. Hanan's reply was as follows: — "From 1908 to 1912 school book's were supplied free of cost. This was discontinued on the recommendation of the Education Commission of 1912, because it was found that most parents preferred their children to have their own hooks to take home, and this duplication resulted in much -waste. Subsequently such books were allowed to be used as were on an approved list. There is no doubt that a revision of this list would reduce, the range of variations that is now possible between district and district, and] even in the same district. This matter was under consideration when the war broke out. As, however, a revision itself causes changes, it was considered that changes in school books were not justified at a timo when economy was imperative in so many homos. . I wish particularly to point out that a' capitation m-ant is paid by the Department to all education boards, out of which children who move to a school where the books are different from thoso they possess can bo supplied freo of cost with the necessary new books. This would make it unnecessary for a parent to buy more than one set of books in a year. Further, the regulations governing the same fund provide for free books in aiiy event in necessitous cases. In addition boards are given a free grant for .the .provision of free supplementary readers for all classes in addition to the School- Journal. As I found that many parents do not know that they may obtain through the headmaster the change in books required oir going to a new school, T caused a circular to bo issued to all the boards asking thorn to make the matter-known to teachers, so that parents might readily receive the> full benefits of tho grant. With regard fo tho desirability of securing a greater uniformity in the books used, I have already indicated that a revision of tho list of approved books will no doubt lessen the variety of types. Further, for such subjects as arithmetic, geography, and history, thcro seems to be no reason why the books should not he uniform throughout New Zealand, Though this could no doubt b'o done. tho principle could easily bo carried too far, and would result in educational loss. In books of a literary character, for instance, somo freedom of ohoico is advisable in tho interests of good education. lam convinced that tho interests of. tho children, which are the true interests of the naren ts, will be best served by avoiding on tlio nno hand a rigid uniformity, and on tho other an undue variety and frequent change in school books."