FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14344, 14 April 1910, Page 7

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

• AN UNSATISFACTORY SYSTEM. !' V ' n t * .EDUCATION BOARD COMMENT. * • ; . - • .The dissatisfaction which has}.been '.freely ! expressed at e Auckland in regard to the working of the rccently-instituted system of free school books is quite , general throughi out' New Zealand, so the chairman of ' the i 'Auckland; Education Board (Mr. C. J. Parr) informed that body'yesterday,: in referring to his recont trip South. The Government grant was, regarded, ho said,' as totally inadequate to supply all the books that were • reasonably required, and it was looked upon : s as a free-book system in ' name : only. Manj ' parents wero actually buying books in order ;* that '.their , children could have educational reading 'in tho home. He (the chairman) thought the Minister should be asked to. reconsider the whole system, with a view to placing it upon a proper basis. , Mr. McKenzio pointed out that if children attending half-time schools were not allowed to take books home, their progress would be very' seriously retarded. This phase of tho question should, . ho thought, bo brought j' under the notice of tho Minister as soon .as , •possible. . • • , Tho ; secretary, of the Auckland Country Teachers' Association forwarded a scries of resolutions passed at tho „ recent Auckland conference,, including ono ..which expressed tho opinion .that tho free school-book grant i was rather a hindrance than a help to edu- ; cation in country districts.' i • A complaint that manj schools had nob yet been supplied with ; free books was.roi ccived from the secretary of the Auckland District Institute of tho New Zealand EduI cational Institute. ; " ; The Northcoto School Committee wrote drawing tho Board's attention to "Thomost | unsatisfactory,. position in regard to the working of tho system of free books at the ; Northcote . school." Standard 111., with nearly 70 pupils, had been supplied with an ! arithmetic book only; Standard IL, with 50 I pupils, had not been supplied with a single , Graphic Reader. . ' • • . | . Tho Chairman, said that tho delaj was ■ quito unavoidable as far as tho Board v/as ' concerned. An order was placed in October ' last; for a supply of Graphic Readers, which , wero specified for use 'as readers ,in the i schools, but the publishers wero out of this ! class of book, and consequently it had been necessary. to have a fresh supply printed,' ! Theso wero duo to arrive at Auckland that j day by tho s.s. Morea, and they would bo ■ distributed at tho . schools during the next : few days. The Board "regretted that delay. j had been caused in delivery, particularly as far as . schools in tho country wore con-'* • corned,' where it was difficult 'to obtain books. • "- /} ' , Mr. Harris: Is there any reason why tho Board should: not supply its own books? -" 1 The Chairman: Ido not think so, and I i will move that the question of the supply of books for the future bo referred to the'exe-' cutive for report. .. ■■ ' ' The motion 'was carried. ; . -