The Portland daily press., 1870-02-11

textbooks in the public schools, ask for the
measure on the following grounds:
First. Because in some of tie schools OF
the State there is diversity of textbooks in
the same branches,
The existence of this evil affords an argu-
ment in favor of town-uniformity and not an
argument in favor of State uniformity. lin
the same schools and in schools of the same
town uniform series of books is used, the
classification will be as perfect as if the schools
of the several towns ere all required to use
the same books. If Portland, for instance.
uses a uniform series of text books OF lts own
adoption, and Bangor also uniform series "
It's own adoption, the classincatioh Ill 'no
| schools of the two cities is as complete as II
,bo1 are both REQUIRED to be uniform in the
u.e Of a series introduced by authority of the
State.
The large number Of classes, too is often
owing, not to the use of different books, but to
the fact that teachers allow pupils differing but
little in proficiency to form several classes in
stead of one.
To establish uniformity all that is required
is the enforcement Of the present law. By the
act OF 1862, the owns are required to select
uniform series of textbooks to be used in their
schools, to give notice of their selection and
are forbidden to change the books so adopted
for period of five years, except by vote of the
town. The act of 1869 imposes penalty OF
$500 for any violation of the law. So we have
the whole authority of the State to enforce
town uniformity. We can have nothing more
to enforce State uniformity, and it is certainly
easier to force the towns and cities to be uni
| form in the use of the books which they adopt
than to force them to be uniform in the use of
books introduced by the State whether they
| like them or not
We think it clear that if Mr.. johnson and
| his County Supervisors hal devoted one-half
| as much time ana labor to the discharge of
their duty in the enforcement of our present
laws, as they have to talking up and engineer
ing their scheme for State uniformity, the
evils they now SO much deplore would not ex-
list and town uniformity would be an accom-
plished fact. Mr.. Webb, Supervisor for Cum
barland, says that he has effected perfect
uniformity in the town where the greatest
| diversity of textbooks existed when he as
| sumed his official functions
This law, if properly enforced, is also suf-
icent guaranty against frequent changes Of
books, another evil alleged to exist under the
present system and for which State uniformi-
ty is proposed as remedy.
1t is better 70 try the effect of the enforce
ment OF the present laws, especially as any
school official of the State is authorized to en-
force the penalty of $500, before making an
abrupt innovation in the legislation and in the
school system of Maine, for the purpose OF
remedying the very evils which the existing
laws are designed and are sufficient to pre-
vent,
For similar state of things in Massachusetts,
Horace Mann recommended, years ago, that
the S. S. Committee conform to the la,o-(for
| town uniformity land that the teachers be oblig-
ed to comply with the directions of the Com
mittees. This course was adopted, town uni
formity was enforced, and was found to be all
that the interests of the schools required
Secondly. State uniformity is proposed, be-
cause it would save expense to parties NOV
ing from one town to another.
This evil has been greatly exaggerated.
The loss in each case is slight. In most cases
the old books may be sold at reduced rate,
and secondhand books purchased at similar
rates. The floating population of the State
is small, and the instances of change of
residence comparatively few. Out of 22S
towns reporting in 1868, 1913 used the same
arithmetic. So that the chances are, even in
case of change of residence, that the pur-
chase of new series of books will not be
necessary.
This is at most trifiug evil, and the small
| expense incurred in these cases affords very
slight argument for sweeping change in the
Legislation of the State. 1t is not well to
egislate Tor the few as against the many, nor
for the floating population as against the per-
-------~--s ---A ---.A---r-r-A--.--
1t is not well that the towns should be de-
prived of the privilege of using in their own
schools textbooks of their own selection, to
the exercise of which they have been accus-
toned since the date of their incorporation,
merely for the purpose of saving two or three
dollars to few men who move out of the
towns during the year.
Thirdly. 1t is proposed by means of State
uniformity to save a certain amount of ex-
pense in the purchase of books.
In answer to this, it may be said, in the first
place, that it will be impossible to effect an
even exchange of the books now in use.
No publisher could afford to do it. There are
said to be about 100000 pupils in the schools
of the State. 1--WE do not know the exact
fgures.) The expense of furnishing each
one of these pupils with new books, in even
| exchange for the old would be enormous. The
average must be several dollars for each pu-
| pill, and the aggregate hundreds of thousands
OF dollars. No publisher would do it except
upon contract for long period, for if State
uniformity be established by the present
Legislature it may be repealed by the next,
and even then upon terms which would not
be advantageous to the State
If then we cannot have an even exchange
of books, consider the loss which must accrue
to the State at the inception of this move
ment. Every pupil in every school in the
State must pay something for the new books
in exchange for the old. The aggregate loss
attending the introduction of the new books
would be immense.
Mr.. johnson, the State Superintendent,
proposed in his Report for 1868, that having
selected the best books for use in the State.
1.-THE board ofselection, as he then suggested. to
consist of himself and his County Supervisors
the State should contract with the publishers
of those books at stipulated wholesale and re-
tail rates, these rates to be stamped upon the
books.
The answer TO this proposition is, that we
anticipate falling market, for the next few
years. If we contract for books for period
| OF five years, upon what seem to be advan-
tageous terms now, it is by no means certain
that these terms will be advantageous in the
result. The chances are the other way. A
slight change in the quality of the paper or in
the style of the book, also, will afford wide
margin of profit to the publisher.
Tnere is fallacy about this proposed saw
ing OF money to the State. For the purpose
OF buying cheap, it is proposed to withdraw
from the open market and close competition
and establish a monopoly. In the city of
Brooklyn uniform series of books has been
used, which were furnished to the city by a