ALEXANDRA SCHOOL BOOKS. (To the. Editor.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 253, 5 December 1872, Page 7

ALEXANDRA SCHOOL BOOKS. (To the. Editor.)

Sir, — Having read a letter in tha " Dunstan Times " of the 22nd., written by the teacher of the Alexandra School j wherein he states that the prices as charged for the books now, are the same as charged by him when he took office, I wish to say a few words with reference thereto. I suppose the teacher's modesty prevented him from stating that although the prices charged were the same, the profits accruing to him from the sale, are a , great deal less within the last few months, because the books supplied now are illustrated, and therefore cost double what . they formerly did. Fourth books now, . contain a multiplication table, and as those supplied formerly did not, cards were sold at sixpance each. I have found from experience that two or three cards were generally required before the table , was committed to memory. Thus, the profits arising directly and indirectly from this source alone, amounted to about - two shillings, instead of at present, only fourpence. Mr. Reid thcows in Principia Latina as a counterpoise, but as. there are , - over eighty children attending sehooVandi r only six, in the highest class, and as Latin < books will.last for years and the small ones only for weeks, Mr. R«*id is too good an accountant to think he can strike an even balance sheet that way. Mr. Reid in his endeavors to exonerate himself, thrown the blame — if any, on the committee ; and I think that is scarcely fair, as he must be perfectly convinced of their blind devotion , to his interest. So far has he been anp--ported in all matters ooanested with, that school — especially in that of the books, . that the uninitiated began to suspect the i committee had an interest in the profits. . ' That supposition was greatly confirmed at: „ the examination on the- 2lat mat.i Mv^,.\ Hislop taking occasion to remark that/ - teachers were only supposed to charge > oirtage over coat price. A oiember of: the committee said he considered Mr. Reid ■ perfectly justified in oharging what he- * did, because he gave his child a book free. , Another followed . suit by saying ; the books only oost him oae shilling and'six*. pence for two years ; if that is not an interest in the profits it looks, trury like it .. to those who average one shilling and six- . pence per week for books, —Yoors Sbtr. r . - , 4 VoTSlftc ■<

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