The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-22

of the members Of the board can see
whether they are men likely to be syeryed
by what has been euphoniously termed
1.-THE undue influence" of their secretary.
Absolute silence In the meetings of the
board and out of them, may have been the
most polite way of influencing the board.
1t probably was. At any rate it was the
only influence exerted. Neither directly
nor indirectly, neither personally nor by
agents, did the secretary approach any
member of the board on this question.
Further than this at his instance, the
publishers of his arithmetics abstained
from sending any agents into this field.
When the publishers of the competing
books declined to send copies for exami-
nation to the teachers consulted, the Sec
rotary, at bis own expense, purchased and
forwarded the necessary copies. Dir.
French was not present on any occasion
when the subject of arithmetics was under
discussion, or when the vote was taken.
AUTHORITATIVE AND BINDING"
An anonymous circular issued IN the in
terest of Greenleaf's Arithmetics and scat
tered broadcast throughout the state, in
forms the public that the action of the
Board is advisory, not compulsory The
Legislature was not so short sighted as to
enact measure Of so great importance
to the schools, and still leave them to be
preyed on by book agents. The law ex-
plicitly declares that the list shall he and
remain authoritative and binding upon the
Board of Education, superintendents and
teachers, and superintendent and teachers
shall recommend for use, as new books
shall become necessary for instruction in
the branches named, no other than the
books included in the said list The asser-
ton that Judge Steele considered the ac-
ton of the Board merely advisory, is I'M
founded. At the last meeting of the Board
which he attended, he expressed great in
dignatiOn at the falsehood which attributed
such an opinion to him. He did say that
pupil might demand to be taught from
any book on the prescribed list, and that
the law would sustain the demand. 1t is
true, as the circular takes pains TO inform
the public, that the law aiiixcs no express
penalty to the use of other than the author
lied books. That, however, is a poor
argument to address to a law-abiding pee
pie, especially when enforced by no other
reasons than those of observation-disclosures
agent DO the people of Vermont wish to
have their children instructed in arithmetic
or any other subject by the agency of
firm which openly and deiiantly advises
them to break a state law, and insinuates
tudt IL 10 possible 10 90 SO WIN lmpunltN
CONCLUSION.
We have withheld this expose of the
situation until this late day, because we
hoped that the facts would come before the
people through other channels, and that
formal statement from us would be unnc-
cessary. We are convinced, however, that
the opposition are taking advantage of our
silence to attempt some further inroad upon
public opinion. As the time approaches
when the new list will become operative.
the manTuvrcs Of disappointed publishers
for retaining the old fields, become holder
and more INSCRIPTIONS. We have no fears
that they will succeed, if only the people
of Vermont will weigh the facts which we
have reluctantly but faithfully set before
them.
julius CONVERSE,
b. i. BINGHAM, Board
NJ. II. BUCKHAM, of
G.. w. GRANDEY, Education.
G. n. WEBER,
The undersigned, members of the Board
OF Education when the list of text books
was adopted, concur in the above State
ment.
j. w. STEWART,
ID. VI. CAMP,
MERRITT CIkRK