COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS

Evening Star, Issue 21656, 27 February 1934, Page 9

COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS

COMPLAINTS TO EDUCATION BOARD PAPER WORK ENTAILS EXPENSE The cost of school books was discussed to-day by the Education Board, which decided to instruct all teachers to indicate to pupils the books which were absolutely necessary, thus assisting parents to reduce the cost. In bringing np the subject, Mr Janies Wallace (chairman) said he had received complaints from parents of the cost to them of books for children going into higher standards. He had gone to the trouble of obtaining various returns of costs. A man who had lodged a complaint had paid 15s 3d for books for a child entering Standard 111. Two further reports showed that the costs were 6s 9d (in which case the conditions were different) and 11s Id (which included the cost of exercise books for the whole year). On looking at these returns, said Mr Wallace, it was evident that an enormous amount of paper work was being done. The man who spent 13s 3d had admitted that the cost did not ruin him, but he was thinking of other people. The complainant had also pointed out the enormous waste which took place in exercise books at the end of each year. Old exercise books were not looked upon kindly by some teachers. “ I don’t wish to make a charge against any teacher or schoolmaster, but I think it is their duty to see at the present time that the children understand that they are asked to buy only books that are absolutely necessary,” said the Chairman. “If the head masters are convinced that the children’s parents are unable to buy the books, the Otago Education Board will pay for them. (Hear, hear.) But we do not want to be flooded with applications.” Mr Wallace suggested that a circular should be sent to head masters drawing their attention to the point that it seemed as if the demand for a great many books, other than text books, was again creeping into the schools. It should be made plain to the teachers that the necessary books should be indicated to the pupils on the lists on the blackboards. Mr P. M'Kinlay: Is not the cost of scribbling paper the basis of the complaints? The Chairman: It is one of the complaints. He added that the largest bill for books did not include the cost of pencils and erasers.' Mr D. C. Cameron: Your intention is that head masters should keep costs down to a minimum ? The Chairman; That is what I am asking. He said that the board had been well treated by wholesalers, and one man had sent in 1,000 exercise books. Mr Carrington (secretary) had shown good buying of books which the board gave away. The board decided" to circularise all school teachers, impressing on them the necessity for reducing school hooks to a minimum. To date, the board has supplied free books to 881 children, on the recommendation of head teachers.