COST OF LEARNING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4448, 2 August 1922, Page 2

COST OF LEARNING.

THE SCHOLAR’S TRADE TOOLS.

THIRTY TONS OF STATIONERY.

The stationery bills of school committees have 'been in the public eye a deal of late, but it is doubtful if the ■man in the street has gained any conception oX the size of what is generally regarded as a trifling item in the cost of education. A more comprehensive survey of the item is afforded by specifications recently drawn up by the Auckland Board of Education with which to approach stationers for a contract of supply- According to this over 120,000 exercise books, 35,000 drawing blocks, and 100 009 writing pads are required by the schools in the Auckland district, while a ton of paper for folding work, and five tons of foolscap in loose sheets for examination and other purposes are included in the requisitionAltogether between eight and ten tons of writing paper will be used up in the year in teaching the young idea of the province, to say nothing of such items as 105,000 lead pencils, 70.00 C pen-nibs, 20,000 slate pencils, and 250 gallons of ink. When there are added a few trifles like 1000 boxes of chalk, 30,000 rubbers, 8000 slates, a ton and a quarter of; blotting paper, and 10,000 nature study books, with rulers, set-squares, compasses, dictionaries, and atlases in proportion, the year’s school, stationery will make a handy little parcel of something approaching thirty tons.