AustLit

The School Paper, a monthly publication of the Victorian Education Department, was first introduced into Victorian schools in 1896, following dissatisfaction with the Royal Readers used in elementary schools. The first general editor of the series was Charles Richard Long. Until its replacement in 1929 by the Victorian Readers the School Paper was the official reading material in schools; and for long after 1929 it was used as supplementary reading material.

The series comprised individual monthly publications for each grade. These texts were used primarily to teach the children to read. 'Other broad aims included the fostering of a love of reading, and the introduction of some of the great literature of our culture to the pupils. Opportunity was also taken by the compilers of these texts to include material designed to influence the students into modes of thinking that were considered to be appropriate to the times. Attitudes to such concepts as sexism, racism, warfare, nationalism and patriotism have been imbued into the consciousness of the readers by overt and sometimes by covert means' (K. Edwards, 'School Reading Texts: The School Papers and the Moulding of Young Minds' Post-Script; v.5 n.1 p.31-53; August 2004 ).