Hadow (1928)

Notes on the text
Preliminary pages Membership, Analysis, Preface, Introduction
Chapter 1 Books in schools 1810 to 1928
Chapter 2 Place and function of books
Chapter 3 Provision of books by LEAs
Chapter 4 School and public libraries
Chapter 5 Guidance for teachers, production of books
Chapter 6 Cost and use of books
Chapter 7 Conclusions and recommendations
Appendix I List of witnesses
Appendix II Practice of sample LEAs
Appendix III Provision of books in London
Appendix IV Expenditure on books
Appendix V Provision of books in Scotland
Appendix VI Publication of new books
Index

Appendix III Notes on the arrangements for the selection and provision of books for pupils and teachers in public elementary schools in the London area
[pages 143 - 146]

(Summarised from a memorandum sent to the Consultative Committee by Mr AE Palfery, Principal Assistant in the Education Officer's Department).

Allowances for books

The education committee of the London County Council prescribes a total capitation limit in respect of the supply of books, apparatus and consumable material for public elementary schools to be administered on the basis of the average roll of pupils in attendance during the preceding year. The capitation limits for the different types of school and the allowance within the total limit allocated for supply of books are set out in the following scale.

Although the total monetary allowances are divided for the general guidance of head teachers into separate allowances for stationery, small apparatus and consumable material; books; science and needlework teaching material; and apparatus, part of the annual allowance for one specific purpose may be utilised for any other approved purpose, provided that the allowance for stationery, small apparatus and consumable material shall not be increased without the authority of the Education Officer. Unexpended balances may be carried forward over a period not exceeding three years, and in exceptional circumstances the allowances for a succeeding year may be anticipated. On the appointment of a new head teacher, or on the reorganisation of a school or department, or after a full inspection of a school or department, the limits of expenditure do not apply to the first requisitions submitted. Al! such requisitions, if in excess of the prescribed limits, must be presented to the books and apparatus subcommittee of the education committee for consideration on their merits.

Requisitions for books

Books are supplied once a year from the council's stores, but special requisitions are allowed at any time, if the circumstances justify them. Each head teacher is required to certify that the books and educational equipment for which he or she applies, are required for the purposes of the approved curriculum. The cost of all books supplied to schools is chargeable to the 'limits', except the supplementary reading material, which is provided by means of the council's scheme for the circulation of continuous reading books.

The list of books, maps, music and diagrams approved for use in schools maintained by the council

The education committee has for some years past published a list of books approved for use in schools maintained by the Council. (1) This list was prepared, and is periodically revised, by the books and apparatus subcommittee of the education committee, with the help of experts on the local inspectorate. All books submitted by the publishers are referred to this subcommittee. The textbooks submitted are sent to the appropriate officers of the local inspectorate, who report upon them and make definite recommendations. (The education committee has decided recently to associate teachers with the inspectorate in this duty). All reports are submitted to the books and apparatus subcommittee, whose decision is final. Books of general literature are referred to a committee of teachers known as the advisory committee on school equipment. It consists of twenty-four teachers, twelve of whom are nominated by the education officer and twelve by the central consultative committees of head teachers. So far as is practicable teachers from all types of educational institutions are represented. One sixth of the members must be assistant teachers; one fourth must retire each year, and the retiring members are not eligible for re-election until after the expiration of one year of their retirement. Each book submitted to this committee is in the first place read independently by two members. The advisory committee's reports are submitted to the Books and Apparatus Subcommittee, which makes the final decision in each case. Special requests from teachers for books which are not on the list are considered on their merits, and they are encouraged to offer suggestions for the improvement of the list either by letter or by means of the suggestion book which is kept in a prominent place in the book room at the County Hall. Every suggestion received is carefully considered and the result communicated to the teacher who offered it. Arrangements are made to keep the list up to date. Any alterations made in it from time to time, whether additions or deletions, are published in the London County Council Gazette. They are later issued as supplements pending the publication of a completely revised edition of the whole list. Specimen copies of all books, etc. on the list are displayed in the book room at the County Hall. One of the rules of the education committee requires head teachers to visit the book room at the County Hall in person, or to depute a competent assistant for this purpose, so that they may become acquainted with the books and educational apparatus available and be in a position to select such as are most suitable for their schools. Copies of the books in the book room are frequently lent to teachers, who desire to make more detailed examination of any particular works. In view of the facilities for guidance in the choice of books thus afforded, the council does not allow publishers' representatives to visit schools in the county area.

The circulation of continuous reading books to public elementary schools in the London area

Some years ago the education committee being faced with the problem how best to provide a sufficient supply of general reading matter for the schools decided that a circulating scheme would probably be the most satisfactory and economical method. Experiments in this direction were accordingly made, and the existing scheme has been gradually developed in consultation with head teachers of schools at meetings held in different parts of the area. There is now a library of some 2,000,000 reading books in circulation. For the purposes of the scheme the county is divided into 99 areas, each of which appoints a local committee of head teachers to manage the scheme so far as the schools in their area are concerned. Books may be requisitioned for each area in accordance with the approved limit, which is quantitative. The number of sets of books available for any one area must not exceed that obtained by multiplying the number of lower classes in the schools in the area by four, and the number of upper classes by three. Each head teacher at the specified time informs the local secretary what books he would like to have, when the exchange is effected. Alternative selections are given, and the local committee determines the books which shall be sent to each school for the agreed period, which is usually six months. In accordance with the arrangements made by the local committee the education officer's department arranges for the collection of books from each individual school and for the allocation of the fresh sets. Facilities are afforded to the local committees for the selection of continuous reading books for their catalogues. Books suited for circulation under the scheme are marked with an asterisk on the requisition list and copies of these are placed on special shelves in the book room at the County Hall. It is stated that this circulation scheme has had the effect of fostering definite reading habits on the part of the pupils and has improved their written and spoken English.

The education library

In addition to the works of reference for pupils and teachers supplied for inclusion in the school libraries, the London County Council maintains an education library for teachers. This collection now contains some 38,000 volumes and the stock is increased by about 3,000 volumes a year. All teachers are entitled to receive borrower's tickets. Two tickets are assigned to each teacher, and he or she may borrow one book on each ticket for a calendar month with the option of renewal for a further period. As the entire staffs of many school departments regularly borrow books from this library, one teacher usually undertakes the work of school collector. He or she conducts all correspondence with the library, applies for books, distributes them and subsequently collects them for return to the library. This arrangement has proved satisfactory and has contributed greatly to the efficiency of the library service. The books are distributed and collected by carrier without cost to the teacher. All books added to this collection are reviewed and reported upon in the same way as books for the requisition list, and lists of additions to the education library are published in the London County Council Gazette. An annotated catalogue of the library is placed in every school, and brought up to date periodically by means of supplements. The circulation of the library has grown steadily from 11,000 volumes a year in 1913 to 107,000 in 1927.

Footnote

(1) List of Books, Maps, Music and Diagrams approved for use in schools maintained by the Council (1926). PS King & Sons (158 pages) 5s. This List is often described as the Requisition List.