"FREE EDUCATION?”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 112, 9 February 1928, Page 12

"FREE EDUCATION?”

Sir, —As a married man with three childdeii attending school at Clyde Quay, 1 wish to draw your attention to what seems to a man. of limited means excessive charges for school requisites. This week my three children each brought homo a list of what was required by them for the coming sessions after the usual term holidays, and 1 have been required to outlay over £1 for the necessary. In all I had to purchase quite an array of goods, and almost a stationer's shop would be required to fulfil the three lists which included 13 exercise books; also included in the list were two bottles of red ink.

Is this a free educational system? Can you tell me, Air. Editor, why such a vast number of exercise books is required, and why I should lie asked to buy red ink at 4d. per bottle? This sort of thing has been happening every year, and, of course, as the children grow older, the more they are required to purchase, but granting this, there is no doubt the cost and quantity of subsidary items is steadily mounting each year.

Further, this is only the preliminary outlay, and, in due course I will be required to purchase other items of which there seems to be no end, and which only a few years ago were supplied by the Education Department. In conclusion, is it a fair thing that the Education Department should ask the children to supply stationery and various sundries (including red ink), which very few years ago were supplied by the schools? If this sort'of thing goes on, and .increases as it has been doing, we shall not long be able to boast that our free education system, which wo now maintain, has set a standard for other countries.—l am, etc., “RED INK.” Wellington, February 4. [ln a report to the Wellington Education Board on the above observations made by “Red Ink.” the headmaster of the Clyde Quay School, Air. T. Irvine, states:—“The enclosed letter, ‘Free Education,’ has been considered. In reply I have to say that I consider the writer has very little real grievance to complain about. An outlay of £1 for three children, soma of whom are evidently in tho highest standard, seems to me a very modest sum. In view of the likelihood of a new syllabus being introduced next year, involving the necessity for new text books, I called the staff together on Wednesday morning and asked them to restrict their requests for text books to the barest minimum. The writer takes exception to thirteen 3d, exercises for three children, an average of Is. Id. each. If this parent never spends Is. Id. on any of his children for whic he will get less value, than I consider he must snend most judiciously. I have inquired from the .staff in regard to the matter of red ink. and, in no class was it m’entioned except one where the teacher told the pupils- that he would like them to procure some so as to enable them to give finish to their work. Many of the other children provide this unasked. The writer’s comments re “Free Book and Stationery,” I have nothing to sav to as this is a matter for the department.”)