CATHOLIC READERS

New Zealand Tablet, 4 March 1915, Page 31

CATHOLIC READERS

To the Editor.

Sir, —‘ Sagart’s ’ letter in your last issue calls for a reply. When Father O’Brien wrote commending the American Catholic Education Series —apropos of the discussion at our Federation meeting, re the publication of a Catholic Reader, —one naturally concluded that the work he specified was a primary school reader. It was about such only that the Federation was asked to take action. But from what ‘ Sagart ’ writes in seconding Father O’Brien’s recommendation, and from the name of the work, I conclude that it is rather a manual of pedagogy for the use of teachers than a primary reader for the young. Moreover, ‘ Sagart ’ must know that it is not within our power, even were it desirable, to introduce new methods of teaching. All that is provided for in the syllabus and inspectors’ instructions to teachers and schemes of work. All that we propose is to provide a Catholic Reader, and our liberty to do so is recognised by the inspectors. Such a Reader, whilst embodying the best features of similar works in use in other

countries, would, by including suitable topical readings, meet with the approval of the Education Boards. Such a compilation should "be an easy matter'for the; heads of our colleges and schools. : L It has been pointed out to me that it ‘is all a matter of cost, and that this cost cannot be light/ It is for others tp say whether such a work; approved by the Bishops for use in all our primary schools, to the exclusion of any other, would be a good business proposition.—l am, etc., ■ February 28. ■'- . Delegate.