FREE EDUCATION

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 106, 4 May 1917, Page 8

FREE EDUCATION

I • 10 THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln .reference to the above subject, I. went to the; Brooklyn School on Monday night to. see what the opinion of some of the householders was on free education. I was very highly pleased to hear the remarks of the secretary, for he practically endorsed what I said ion Monday. He also said something that • surprised me, and I believe . a lot more people too, so I would like to know if his statement is correct. If so, I think it is a standing disgrace to our educational heads; . The statement is this: It is not generally known, that legally, parents are not, or cannot N be compelled to buy books, etc., for the education of the children. Neither is the Government compelled to supply the books. The school authorities are placed just the same, and what is the . result? No one is compelled to buy books and materials. To, me it' seems incredible that such a state'of affaire should exist. ; . If - this 1 is the education system of *New Zealand it is high time ' that an Efficiency Board was appointed to advice and direct the governing powers what to do, or may be it would be better to appoint a commission to look into the matter and have • a good time, for it would never do for a few men to put their heads together for a week to adopt some new legislation, to issue a Gazette Extraordinary, and tell you that such and such a thing has become law, before one, person out of a hundred knew anything about it. ■' , . v - ..

At the same meeting I noticed that the headmaster passed, around to the people for their inspection copies of the 6th Standard, children's hand-writing, which was frankly admitted to be'very good, but I only wish I could say the same in reference to the 1 home work they give the children. Children are sent } to school to be instructed. ' Let them have full practical instruction in their work in the school first, and give them a little practice at home, although 1 myself do not believe in much home work.—l am; etc., ,; -

THE UNKNOWN.

[There ie provision under the education regulations for the State to refund the cost of class books only provided for indigent children, but not in the case of others the parents of whom are, by inference required to supply the books. Material of various sorts; plasticine, paper for paper-folding, brushes, and similar articles required in hand work are provided by the Education Board wherever classes are established.—Ed.]