ABSTRACT
In the 1920s, the Board of Education of England and Wales established a consultative committee on Books in Public Elementary Schools, the report of which finally appeared in 1928. Though covering books in general, textbooks formed part of the remit. The survey began with a number of key questions, including:
• Should expenditure on school books be substantially increased? • Was the quality of books as high as could reasonably be expected? • If unsatisfactory, was the reason unavailability of good quality books,
or poor choice? • Were the methods commonly employed in choosing books likely to
achieve the best results? • Could children be inspired to see books as 'familiar and trusted'
companions?
