The union Democrat., 1870-07-30

annually by reason of waste and new purchas-
es necessitatei by promotions: so that the an
nual expense to the people of the State to
maintain the Wilson Reader system on the
hasis of the present enrolment, would be
ST, ,000. Tie corresponding books of McGuf-
fey's Series would cost at the Publishers full
retail prices. sic, ,000-a saving annually to
tie people $4,000, or SIG, 900 during the pc
riod Of four years. Mark these figures.
Attention is invited to the foregoing facts
and figures. They show beyond the possibil-
ity Of honest cay1 that economy Is SubSerred
by the substitution of McGufey's admirable
Series Of Readers for Wilson's hodge podge.
In view Of this exhibit, any repetition of the
statement that the change in Readers will in
volve additional cost must be willful mis-
representation.
But q bad book is dear at any price.
sincerely believe that the retention of Sc
ries Of Readers, so false in theory and so
utterly unsuited to its intended purpose, as
Wilson's, even had they been gratuitously
furnished, would have been crime against
the children Of the State.
The State Board of Education, under the
law of the State, is endeavoring to accom-
plish reform in the textbook matter. In
stead of increasing the burdens of the peo-
pie, if successfully carried out, the policy of
the Board will very materially tighten them.
The Board has right therefore to expect
the support of all good citizens.
One important point sought to be gained is
the establishment of uniformity Of tert books
in all tie public schools of the State. There
was a universal demand for this No word
of opposition has reached me from any quar-
ter. The change in the School Law, requir-
ing uniformity, passed both branches of the
Legislature unanimously, and received the
hearty approval of Governor Haight. [ am
sure it receives the approval of every tax
payer In California, unless it may be some
book agent or bookseller. Under the amend
ed law any child can 90 from any School Dis
trict to any other IN the State and take his
school cooks scith hin, and use them. Under
tho old law, parent living in San Fran
cisco, should he even remove to Oakland or
San Rafael, was compelled to purchase an
almost entirely new supply of books for his
children. A gentleman recently removed
frcm San Francisco to Alameda, and having
five children of school age, was compelled to
purchase in one week Zen new books, in con-
sequence of the lack Of uniformity Of text
books. There was no sense or reason in ex-
cepting San Francisco and other cities from
the operation of the State law prescribing
uniform series of textbooks. Why should
San Francisco boy require different arth-
metic, reader or geography from one who
lives at Oakland or San Jose? Our State is
new and our population more unsettled than
that of the older States, and therefore will be
more largely benefited by this uniformity
of textbooks. And our cities will receive no
less benefit than the country. The people
of San Francisco, Sacramento, and other
cities have not asked the privilege of main
tanning anv such nuisance as this school book
medley. They only ask the same treatment
that is accorded to the rest of the State; they
demand the same protection. and are willing
to bear their equal part of the burdens of
supporting system of public instruction
The policy of the Board aims at unhy as
we'll as uniformity of textbooks. Heretofore
we have had a sort of patchwork, especially
in our cities. For instance, in San Francisco
there were in use parts of foar different sets
of textbooks in Geography. viz: Cornell,
Allen, Guyot and Warren. These have oil
been substituted by the cheap and excellent
series of Monteth, embracing three books
only, which have been introduced at a nom-
inal cost. This will not only save consid.
erable amount of money, but what is of in.
fnitely greater Importance, much precious
time to the children in our schools. Other
examples might be cited. but it is unneces-
sary. The advantages of unity in our text
book system are so obvious that it would be
an insult to popular intelligence to dwell
upon them.
Thus it is clear that the action of the Leg
islature, if carried out in its letter and spir-
it by the State Board of Education, will at
once diminish the number and costs of sch ool
l. Il. Il - ~
of the Board already taken will save the peo-
pie of the State thousands of dollars. The
advantage of having better text. books is in
calculable.
| Some friction was expected ir carving out
these reforms. No opposition was expected
! from the great body of the school officers and
school teachers of the State They are al
most unit in their support of the general
policy of the Board, if may judge of their
opinions by the expression of their views in
the resolutions of County Institutes, letters,
etc. This approval is given without distinc-
| ton of party. Perhaps the most reprehe1-
| sible thing in all this contest was the appeal
made to party feeling. Come from what
/ quarter it may, any attempt to mix up our
school matters with party spirit is crime
against the dearest interests of the State,
and should be -ebuked by good citizens of all
parties For the sincerity of this utterance
appeal to my official record. During my
4 term of Office party spirit has almost vanish
| ed from our school affairs. have had the
cordial cooperation of school officials of all
parties, and my relations with them have
/ been uniformly pleasant and satisfactory. /
desire no support on mere party grounds. /
wish to be judged fairly according to the
| facts.
/ My course is clear to my own mind, and /
viii go on in the path Of duty. shall at
tempt no rash innovations or doubtful exper-
iments. but win discharge the great trust
committed to me by the people of California
regardless of personal consequences. No
body has attempted to bribe me. The attemps
made to bully me will hardly be repeated by
the shallow-pated blusterers who tried it.
i W k o. P. FIfzGERALD,
Supt. Public Instruction.
San Francisco, July IA, 1870.
/ A wellknown young solicitor obtained a
divorce for pretty and wealthy client. lie
sent in q bin fer 20ol The next day the