Changing School Books.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11973, 17 September 1906, Page 2

Changing School Books.

TO THB EDITOB.

, Sir, — As the last clause in the resolution moved by me at the Aramoho School Committee meeting on the 14th ultimo is not generally understood, and its importance in connection with the former part of the resolution not realised by some of the school committees to whom circulars have been sent, will you please be good enough to again publish the resolution, any also my explanation of the last clause. Thanking you for all past favours, — I am, etc.,

W. M. LUXFORD

[Following is the resolution: — That this Committee view with very great disfavour the frequency with which the school read-ing-books, etc., are changed, not only in this school but in every public school in the colony, and that this Committee think the time is ripe for the Government to legislate in the direction of universal school-books. The Committee are also of opinion that no change of readers, etc., should be allowed until such books have been a reasonable length of time in use, and that when a change is decided on by the authorities the proper time to make a change is immediately after the annual examinations. That it is the opinion of this Committee that annual pass examinations should be held by head teachers, and that such annual pass examinations should be held in the same month of the year by all State schools in the colony. Mr Luxford's explanation of the last clause is as follows: — If the Government legislate in the direction of universal school books without providing for all schools to be examined in the same month of the year, when a change of books is decided on by the authorities all schools will not benefit by that change immediately, consequently parents removing from one district to another would probably find the school in the new district using different books from the school in the old district. If annual pass examinations were held by head teachers and inspectors allowed to visit schools and examine school work at their leisure during any part of the year — in fact, spring surprises on teachers — in my opinion scholars would received more careful preparation throughout the whole of the year, and thereby ijain a more thorough and lasting knowedge. By this means any past practice on the part of teachers of cramming scholars a couple of months prior to the annual examination would be quite unnecessary and no doubt avoided.]