DEFECTIVE SCHOOL JOURNAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8983, 18 November 1907, Page 4

DEFECTIVE SCHOOL JOURNAL.

Perusal of our exchanges shows that there is very general dissatisfaction with the "School Journal" as a substitute for "readers." The latest complaint comes from the North Canterbury Education Board, which body considers that the School Journal in its present form is of very little use either as a purely literary or as a geographical, historical, and scientific reader. The chief points condemed are the scrappy nature of the contents, Jack of illustrations, the poor quality of the literary selections, and the absence of spelling lists, and the explanation of words. In addition to this, the board declares that the publication contains numerous errors of fact. Many teachers in various pa-ts of dominion complain of the lack of continuity in the "Journal," which is said to be a very serious defect, as teachers do not know from one month's issue what is to be given in the next. The contention is that the "Journal" can r.e\-er take the place of text-books or of the readers now in use. Referring to this newest cf State publications the Christchurch Press remarks:—"At present it merely serves the purpose of a supplementary reader; it is not only .inch less useful than was hoped, but much less than it might be. Its publication costs a considerable sum, and it is obvious that the money might be applied to better purpose. ,Jf Mr Fowlds' paternal partiality for the 'Journal' will not allow him to discontinue its publication, he should at least see that it conforms with the requirements of those who have to use it."