PARENTS PUT TO UNNECESSARY COST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18419, 22 March 1928, Page 14

PARENTS PUT TO UNNECESSARY COST.

ACTION OF TEACHERS CRITICISED BY BOARD. (Special to the “ Star.’’) DUNEDIN, March 21. The Education Department informed the Education Board to-day that no fewer than 18,000 copies of a certain series of unauthorised text books Had been bought by school pupils at the direction of their teachers, and that another publishing firm was endeavouring to force into the schools other unauthorised books. The board was asked to see that teachers did not continue to infringe the regulations in this direction; it was suggested that the board might ascertain the extent to which parents had been put to unnecessary expense in purchasing books that would, in all probability, be quite unsuitable next year. Mr M’Kinley asked what district was being referred to. The senior inspector (Mr Stuckey) said he thought the Department was having “ a shot at all districts.” The chairman (Mr J. Wallace) said the Otago Board had always been careful that unauthorised books should not be used. Mr J. H. Wilkinson said that if it had been going on to any extent in the district, parents had serious grounds for complaints. The chairman said that if unauthorised books were being used in the Otago district it was the fault of the Departmental officers in not informing the board. The senior inspector said he was now having a report prepared on the subject. Mr Sanderson said storekeepers had asked him if certain books were on the list, and he told them they were not. They informed him that pupils had been told by their teachers to purchase them. The chairman: We will do the best we can to carry out the instructions of the Department, and request the senior inspector to let us know at once.