Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-22

may have been the most polite way Of inlu-
encing the Board. It probably was. At any
rate. 1t was Tic only influence exerted Nei-
thcr directly nor indirectly. neither personally
nor Wy agents, did the Secretary approach any
member Of the Board on this question
Further than this ut his instance, the pub
fishers Of his Arthmctios nh,tained from send
ing any agents into this field When the pub.
fishers Of competing books declined to send
copies for examination 10 the tenchcrs con.
suited, the Secretary. vt his own expense. pur.
chased and forwarded the necessary copies
DR. French was not present IN any occasion
when the subject NJ Arithmctics was under
discussion, or when the vote was taken.
AUTHORITATIVE AND BiNpiNo"
An anonymous circular, issued in the inter
est Of Greenleals Arthmetca. and scattered
broadcast throughout the State, informs the
public that the action Of the Bunrd is ndvisory,
not compulsory The legislature was not 40
short sighted az 10 enact Il measure NJ 20 great
importance 10 the schools, and still leave them
To- be prcyel on by book agents The law ex.
plicitly declares that the list " shall be and re-
main authoritative and binding upon tho
Bard oi Education, superintendcnisa and teach
ers, and supcrintendonts and teachers shall re-
commend Tor use. A. new books shall become
necessary lirinstructnu in the branches named
M others than the books included in the said
list The assertion that Judge Steele cnn.
sidercd Tie action Of the Board merely ndyis-
DRY is unfnunded. At the last meeting Of the
Bnrd which he attended. he expressed great
indignation at the inscho0d which attributed
such mn opinion % him lie did say that
pupil might demand ~ he tnught irnm my
blok on the prescribed lit, and that the law
would sustain the demand. IL is true. a. the
circular takes pains to inform the public, that
the law Hihxes M express penalty 10 the use Of
other thnn the authorized books That, how
every, Is poOr argument 10 address ~ q law
abiding people. especially when enforced by no
other regsIns than those Of book. publishers
agent Do the people Of Vermont wish 10
have their children instructed in Arithmetic
m any other subject. nv the agency Of a firm
Which openly md defintly advises them to
break State law. and insnuatc- that il is
possible to do 50 with impunity?
coNcLruoS.
We have withheld this expose Of the situa.
lion until tins late day. because we hoped that
rho facts would cImc before the people through
other channels and that formal statement
from as would he unnecessary. We are con-
vinccd. however that me opposition ere taking
advantage piuur silence toattempt some further
inroad upon public opinion As the time az
prnacheS when the new list will become opera.
tive, the mnuUnvrc- Of disappointed publisher,
Tor retaining the old fields, hecune holder end
more unscrupulnu-. We have no fears that
ihey will succeed, &c only tho people of Yer
mont will weigh the facts which we have re.
lucnntly but faithfully set before them.
Jrtir- CoNvEusE.
g. + BNcnN. Board
NJ II BrlEn,v. of
O. vs. Gu>nEf, Education.
g. ~ WIENER,
The undersigned. members Ut the Board of
Education when the list ni text hooks was
adopted, concur in the above statement
J. W STEWART,
ID. VI C,Mp.
NFRHrT CLARE