The first School Journal was published on 9 May 1907 by the New Zealand Department of Education

lt's publication occurred after lobbyists sought uniformity between schools on books to teach subjects

The journal format was chosen as being cheaper to publish than textbooks on individual subjects for use by schools

Having a journal was initiated by George Hogben (Inspector-General of Schools & Secretary of Education since 1899)

Aim was to provide educational content with NZ focus, as well as information about the British Empire & overseas events

(Photo: A School Journal being read to students during Book Week by writer Pat Quinn in Oct 2002)

It was published in three parts corresponding to different age levels

Each issue was delivered to individual children free of charge and bulk deliveries to schools began in the 1940s

During the first year, the articles did not have illustrations

Some drawings were introduced in the second year

Content reflected colonial life & being a Dominion within the British Empire, with material largely from overseas

Article: "The passing of King Edward VII" in The School Journal, Vol. IV No 5. June 1910

Writing was by British authors including William Shakespeare, Jane Austen & Jonathan Swift

Image: Poem: "When all the world is young" by Charles Kingsley. The School Journal, Vol. V No.2 March 1911

Regular content included Māori and their culture

Articles also included the Moriori (The Editor, Mr W. E. Spencer, had visited Chatham Islands in 1909)

In April 1914, Wellington Education Board resolved that the School Journal to become the official reader

Writings were not always attributed as was the case with the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling in Oct 1914

When Kilping was notified he sought payment of £50 but the NZ Government said it was not bound by copyright laws

During WWI, articles encouraged patriotism & support for the war effort by schoolchildren

During 1918, Spencer resigned as editor & Mrs D. C. Bates (B.A. degree) filled in until a new editor was appointed

Special Souvenir Edition Prince of Wales Visit. Vol XIV No 6, Part 1 July-Aug 1920 with photo of Prince Edward on cover

In July 1919, new editor had been appointed - Mr. T. A. Fletcher - who had been headmaster of Mackenzie School, Cheviot

In 1931 Alice May Palmer (sub-editor since 1924) took over editorial role & content became less imperial & more anti-war

She became 'Acting Editor' in 1937 due to reluctance of Civil Service to appoint women in control, & retired Oct 1940

1936: Hand bound book containing a collection of School Journals, Part 3, 1936, as used in primary schools

This copy is from Mataura Primary School

From 1944 to 1946, E. (Ernest) Mervyn Taylor was the art editor and illustrator

He used wood engravings for illustrations & adapted scratch board - scratching lines into a blackened shape

Cover for Vol 40 No. 8 Part 3 Sept 1946

In late 1940s, joint art editors were Cliff O'Malley & Roy Cowan (Ngāpuhi)

Illustrators included Colin John McCahon, Juliet Peter, George Woods, Yvonne Mendall, Rita Angus & Russell Clark

Juliet Peter's illustrations, 1947-1949

May 1950: School Journal's "Tales Of The Canterbury High Country"

Published in conjunction with the centenary of the province of Canterbury 1850 - 1950

Cover for NZ Vol 44 No 10 Part III Nov 1950

Cover for Vol 45 No 1 Part IV Feb 1951

School Journal's 'Verse' published as Vol 45 No 5 Part III June 1951

Cover for Vol 46 No 9 Part 4 Nov 1952

1955-72: Editor of Parts 3 & 4 was Alistair Te Ariki Campbell (Cook Island Māori) who increased Māori & Pacific content

(Image: Cover designed by E. Mervyn Taylor)

By the late 1950s, photographs of NZ became more prominent

Photographers included Ans Westra, John Pascoe, Robin Morrison, Marti Friedlander & Helen Buttfield

Cover for No 1 Part 1 1960

Cover for No 5 1962

By the mid-1960s specialist illustrators included Graham Percy, Clare Bowes & Jill McDonald (also the art editor)

In 1963, journalist & poet Louis Johnson became editor of Part 1 issues of the School Journal

From 1960s content also began to contain some stories & poems written by children

(Image: Part 1: 1963-64)

Cover for School Journal's 'Verse' Part 2 No 1 1965

In 1968, the issue called “The Hopeful Peace and the Hopeful War” featured text by Elsie Locke & drawings by David Cowe

Cover image: The Bolsheviks storming the Tsar’s Winter Palace on 7 Nov 1917 (School Journal Part 4 no. 3 1968)

In 70s & 80s, artists included Dick Frizzell, Robin White, Para Matchitt, Ralph Hotere, Cliff Whiting & Robin Kahukiwa

Image: Cover for Part 3 No 3 1973

1971: Student article about the history and restoration of the Waimate Mission House

School Journal, Part 2 No 1 1971

Cover used in 1978 for stories about Jean Batten's flight across the Tasman & early days in NZ ballooning (Part 4 No 1)

Editor from Jan 1975-Feb 1980 was Michael Keith

Cover for Part 2 No 3 1980

Special issue for 75th Jubilee in 1982

In late 1980s, the Department of Education bought Apple Macintosh computers for its School Publications Branch

This particular computer was used by Don Long, who was the Māori and Pacific Editor

Cover of School Journal Part 2 No 1 1987

Cover for 1989 which contains story written by Elizabeth Smither titled "Happy Birthday, Mobile Library"

Story is about New Plymouth's Mobile Library (Part 1 No 2, 1989)

This display on the wall of the Library at Massey University's Albany campus, celebrated the centenary

At the Library on Massey University's Auckland campus, the shelves on the left hold the School Journal

c.2000s: The filing of School Journals on shelves photographed by Ans Westra

In 2010 three special editions were published to correct inaccuracies portrayed about the Moriori in early publications

The NZ Government also officially apologised in settlement of the Moriori Waitangi Tribunal claim in 2020

In 2011, the School Journal’s previous four-part structure was changed to align with curriculum levels 2, 3 or 4

Each issue is published in three parts: Year 4 (ages 8–9), Years 5–6 (ages 9–10) & Years 7–8 (ages 11–13)

Cartoon (2013) 'The last school journal' about teacher job losses following decision to close 4 Christchurch schools

RNZ (26 Sept 2013): The Vault looks back at the School Journal when Learning Media's closure was announced (9:40 min)

However, in 2013, Lift Education was awarded Ministry of Education's tender to publish the School Journal

Lift Education publishes the Junior Journal, School Journal, & School Journal Story Library for Ministry of Education

Since 2021, Toitoi has collaborated with School Journal for young writers to have a piece of their work included

Toitoi publishes material by young writers & artists

The Education Act 1877 established free, compulsory & secular primary school education for Pākehā children aged 7-13

The Department of Education was also established to provide a national curriculum & fund 12 regional Education Boards

The School Attendance Act 1894 made primary school education at a state or native school compulsory for Māori

Curriculum: Reading, writing, arithmetic, history & geography. Plus, sewing & needlework (girls) & military drill (boys)

The Secondary Schools Act 1903 required free education for those who'd obtained a Standard V certificate

Previously, children from poor families could only get secondary schooling if they won a scholarship

On 21 March 1878, a letter to the Editor called for uniformity in lesson books used to deliver the curriculum

This matter was also raised by other individuals, schools, & regional Education Boards over the next two decades

In 1890, newspapers reported on increasing calls for a consensus on curriculum content & types of books taught across NZ

Also, if a child moved to another school, often different books were required which was an added expense for a family

On 4 July 1890, the Education Board at Invercargill resolved to support an uniform set of task books throughout NZ

On 1 April 1899, George Hogben was appointed Inspector-General of Schools & Secretary for Education

In April 1904, Hogben announced a new primary school syllabus

He'd gained approval at the Education Conference of Inspectors of Schools and Teachers' Representatives held in Feb 1904

Subjects included: reading, writing, arithmetic, history, geography, science, nature study, health & moral instruction

Plus, sewing and needlework for girls and military drill for boys

Idea of a journal had been initiated by George Hogben & would include NZ as well as British Empire content

It would be free to schools & content include: history, geography, science, nature study, health, & moral instruction

7 Jan 1907: Newspaper reported that a large number of applicants for Editor had been received by the Education Dept

The first editor from 1907-1918 was Mr W. E. Spencer, a former Inspector of Schools

18 March 1907: Fowlds stated the Journal was intended to cover the syllabus, except for reading & arithmetic

In addition to the Journal, “All that will be required will be one reader and perhaps an arithmetic book..."

Article (1973): “The New Zealand School Journal and the imperial ideology, by E. P. Malone

Published in NZ Journal of History (Vol 7, No. 1, p. 12-27)

RNZ (8 Sept 2013): Retrospective look at the School Journal with former editor Jack Lasenby (19:01 min)

2014: Archives New Zealand film about the history of the School Journal (1:05 min)

Shows extracts from the School Journal, original art works used, & movie footage of children at school in the 1940s