School Journal petition gathers signatures

A petition is circulating online asking Minister of Finance, Bill English, to save the School Journal.

In September this year Learning Media announced it was no longer financially viable and would be wound down.

“Save our School Journal and keep it and Learning Media in public hands”  now has 3000 signatures.

Rototuna primary school teacher, Beccy Williams signed the petition and is urging others to do so.

“They cover so many different topics, which means as teachers we can link reading with the topic the class is studying,” Williams said.

A New Plymouth resident, David Hill, agrees.

‘‘As far as I’m aware, no other country has a free, universally distributed publication for children that reflects so powerfully the character of its own country and the skills of its own writers. It’s a publication that has become synonymous with a NZ childhood,’’  Hill said.

New Zealand First  education spokesperson, Tracey Martin said the Government had forced the closure of Learning Media by making it compete unfairly in a tight competitive publishing market.

“Learning Media was identified in the Digital Literacy Inquiry as having a valuable role in ensuring local resources were developed, not only in the area of the written word, but in the digital development of educational applications,’’ Martin said.

“The removal of the government contract assurance has thrust Learning Media directly into a fiercely competitive marketplace while requiring them to provide free resources to the education sector.’’

When  the School Journal was established in 1907 by Learning Media it was the first time   school children were able to read a school book relevant to their needs and interests published in their own country.

For more information click here.