UNAUTHORISED BOOKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 135, 8 May 1928, Page 6

UNAUTHORISED BOOKS.

STATEMENT BY AIINISTER

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Alay 7. Reference to the use or unauthorised books in the schools was made by the Minister of Education (Hon. K. A. Wright) when speaking at the annual meeting to-night of the New- Zealand Educational Institute. Depending upon the issue of the new syllabus, said the Minister, was die question of new text books. It was recognised that the present .list did not meet the requirements and it was for that reason that he was anxious to have the syllabus completed as early as possible. It was quite unnecessary arid unwise, however, to put parents to the expense of temporary books which might be discarded next year. Therefore the authorised list had not been altered. It had been stated, however, that there were 18,000 unauthorised books in use in the schools. He did not deny that statement, but to him what seemed hard was that parents should be called upon to purchase books which certainly next year would be useless.

“If teachers are to have a free hand and select whatever books they Jiko where will the system drift to?” asked the Alinister. “Aly experience in life,” he added, “has been that the more highly educated a nian and women is the less they know about money niatters. The average young teacher,” lie continued, “has had no business experience. He has never had to rub shoulders with the world and battle for a job as many of us have done. Sixty per cent, of the bread winners in New Zealand average less than £5 a week. AVhen they have to pay rent out of that you can see it is not a question of studying shillings but a question of studying pennies. Well, I have had my civil growl,” concluded Air AVright turning to the president (Air F. L. Combs). “I don’t know wliat you think of it.” (Laughter.) Air Combs: AYe welcome it.

The Minister: I am glad of that.