SCHOOL READING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 12, 14 July 1931, Page 8

SCHOOL READING

A GRANT WITHDRAWN

A letter sent to Mr. C. H. Pinnock, chairman of the Wellington School Committees and Educational Federation, by Mr. J. Norrie, City Librarian, was read at last evening's meeting of the association. The letter stated that the writer had been informed by the Education, Board that- the Education Department's grants for supplementary readers for public schools must be suspended'for the present. This meant that the board could not hold out any hope of a grant for , supplementary readers next year. Mr. Nome suggested th nt the Schools' Association should appeal, either to tho Minister of Education or to the Economy Commission, and so, if possible, ensure that the scheme which had been so successfully launched would not be retarded.1

Mr. Pinnock aaid that Mr. Norrie had been very interested in the scheme of distributing readers, and was also very enthusiastic. ' •

' Mr. J.-J. Clark said that there,were two schemes of distributing books in the schools in operation. One scheme ■was that by which the schools in the city and immediate suburbs were supplied with books once a year'by the city libraries. Tho books were suitable for children of different ages. The only expense incurred' by the schools was that of collecting and returning the books once a year. Tho books had been distributed to-.the. children for reading in their homes, and the scheme was very successful, and. was still in use. The second scheme.was that whereby the Government provided a sum of about 3d a child for supplementary "readers. The only reader otherwise was the "School Journal." The total sum of £150 per annum had been transferred to the Corporation to lend books of a suitable nature every year. The Corporation had ordered more than one year's supply; possibly about £200. or £300 worth of books. He complimented the Corporation on the books provided.

Mr. O. H. Nicholls, of the Education Board, said that a meeting of the executive would be held in August to see what could be done in the matter.

After several speakers had expressed dissatisfaction at the withdrawal of the grant, a resolution was passed to the effect that the association desired to bring under the notice of the Department of Education the necessity of restoring, the subsidy for the supply of supplementary readers, and that the association should join forces ,with the board in any representations that might be made.