Legislative Assembly

Thursday, March 30, 1967

Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: Mr. Speaker, when the Debate was adjourned yesterday I was about to make a few comments about the Department of Education over which I have the privilege of presiding. The absence for a period of eight weeks or more of my Deputy Minister of Education has made the work load of the other members of the Department rather heavy and I have admired the way in which they have accepted this additional responsibility which was suddenly thrust upon them, and I am most appreciative of their support and help during this emergency period. I feel, Mr. Speaker, that the situation created by Mr. MacKenzie’s absence em- phasizes the desirability of having understudies for all our Deputy Ministers so that departmental affairs, when emergency situations arise, might go along uninterrupted under any circumstances. And I hope that it may be possible, Mr. Speaker, before long for us in the Department of Education to have an Assistant Deputy Minister.

I am rather surprised to find, Mr. Speaker that the Leader of the Opposition is still criticising our policy of free school text books. Personally, I am very proud of the manner in which the members of my Department tackled this monumental task last summer. (Applause) Just to refresh our memories, Mr. Speaker, I might recall that this Government was sworn into office on Thursday, July 28th. On the following Monday representatives of our Department went over to Halifax to meet with mem- bers of the Department of Education of that province, and I might say they were most cordially received and provided with a great deal of information. They discussed with the departmental representatives over there matters pertaining to the distribu- tion of school text books. And as you will recall the details were worked out quickly: additional supplies of text books were obtained and approximately 200,000 textbooks were distributed to students in all parts of this rovince. I think I can say without any contradiction that no election promise in th s province was ever fulfilled more readily and more efficiently than was this promise of free school textbooks. (Applause)

Keith S. Harrington: Mr. Speaker, would the honourable member permit a question?

Honourble Gordon L. Bennett: Indeed, Sir.

Keith S. Harrington: I understood that the election promise was free textbooks up to Garde Ten. I think I am proper in saying that free textbooks were provided

to Grade Eight.

Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: You are correct. Sir, and my next piece of information would be to inform the members of this House that we intend, in the coming school year, to provide free textbooks for Grade Nine, and provide also any new authorization at the Grade Ten level as well, and I would hope by the end of that time we have implemented our promise one hundred percent and to the satis- faction of the honourable member from the Third District of Prince.

Keith S. Harrington: Pardon me, I must apologize. I understood that you did say that your promise had already been fulfilled one hundred percent.

Gordon L. Bennett: Mr. Speaker with regard to the life expectancy of these textbooks, I would like to repeat what I said earlier through some other means that their life expectancy is roughly three to four years. Naturally it is in the interests of the economy of this province to prolong the life of the textbooks as long as we possibly can, and we have, consequently, and we make no apologies for it, Mr. Speaker, we have issued directions to teachers and students reminding them that these textbooks belong to the Department of Education. They are on loan to the schools and the students and we hope that they will keep them in the very best condition possible. This respect for the textbooks is something that I think can very well be emphasized, Mr. Speaker, and it might extend well beyond the school text- books and might very well apply to the necessary respect for all school properties, school authorities, and school teachers, and it might very well Join the traditional three “R’s” of “reading, writing and ‘rithmetic” and from the fourth “R” and the fourth basic rinciple upon which the fundamental educational program of our prov- ince can be built. It is hoped, Mr. Speaker, when school textbooks get into a con- dition that they have to be repaired, when bindings have to be looked after or re-

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