BOARD ANGRY

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1929, Page 3

BOARD ANGRY

PROTEST AGAINST DEPARTMENT’S LETTER, ,

AUCKLAND, -March (5

Indignant at the expressions used in a letter from the Education Department, the Auckland Education Hoard decided this morning to send a copy of the letter, accompanied by a protest, to the Minister for Edirr i ion.

“It is the criticism of an understrapper upon a letter from the Hoard that was fully justified,” said D"' chairman (Mr A. Hums). “H would lie a loss of dignity to accept such language from a junior official in the Department.” The letter was in reply to a communication from the Hoard supporting a complaint by the Waimauku School Committee about the quality oil the new school hooks. The letter read: “The Department is obliged .to you for passing on information which will enable the change from the old to the new to he carried out with a minimum of friction. It is thought, however, that the inconvenience caused by the non-arrival ot the new text-hooks is unduly stressed. Most .of our teacheis are able to carry on for considerable periods without text hooks, and most of them will loyally endure a little inconvenience in order to effect the change smoothly. With regard to the prices of the books, it is understood that a comparison of the prices of the new hooks with those of similar Ivy. ' in use in private schools, revealed the ■fact that the new books contain more reading matter and cost less per hook than the imported article. Condemnation of the quality of the books seems unjustified. The complaint about the inversion of pages, a phenomenon which is familiar to all readers,, is trivial.” Mr Burns: It is not a proper letter send to a. Hoard of representative members. The motion of the chairman, that the matter he taken up with the Minister of Edueation and a protest made against the tone of the Depaitment’s letter was carried. - _ The letter was signed by Alfred Cowles, for the Director of Education.