Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-24

because five out Of the six teachers consulted,
advised their adoption. 1t seems hardly re-
spectlul to the good sense OF our people to
be obliged to say. that in our Judgment 1T
was no insuperable objection to good book
that its author was a resident OF the State,
and Secretary of its Board of Education.
PROFITS on SCHOOL BOOKS.
Statements have been made which are en-
tirely unwarranted, and ludierously extra
VACANT, respecting the profits made on
school books. The publishers Of textbooks
extensively used no doubt make a good pro-
fit out of their business, but it Is the extern
siye sale and not the wide margin OF profits,
which makes The business good one. But
be that as it may, the Board has secured
from all the publishers of the books on the
new list. excepting Robert 5. DAVIS y Co,
the nublisbers of Greenleaf's Algebra, writ
ten contracts to furnish the prescribed text
books. for five years to come, at rates lar
more favorable to dealers and purcha-
sers than those which have been paid in
voors mast The new list under this man.
aoement will save the State thousands of
dollars per annum over the old one. As to
the per cent said to be paid by publishers
:, ortb,rs another invidious charge
AGAINST the Secretary-it is asccrtained that
from two to ten per cent on sales Is
the rate allowed for copyright. What Is
the amount of copyright paid by the pub
fishers to the author Of French Arithme-
ties. or of other books on the list, we are
not informed. Every textbook upon our
table was paying copyright to somebody
Why if should be an objection to book
that it paid copyright to citizen of this
State. instead of to some one ont OF the
State. is not clear to our minds.
THE PETITION OF TOWN sUPERINTENDEYTs.
There was laid upon our table docu-
ment purporting to be petition signed by a
large number of town superintendent
against i change Of Arithmetics. That
document received respectful attention.
But when the matter was examined into
little more closely, it was found that some
of the signers were no, superintendent,
that several had in other communications
To the Board advised change, and that
the petition, 50 called, was not aspontan-
eous expression of opinion, bat a Job that
had been worked up by the agent and in
the interest Of Greenl7af' Arithmetics. We
therefore thought it not entitled to very
much consideration.
THE TEACHERS OPINION or GREESLEAr.
1t has been said that Grecnleaf's were cSr
cluded from the Arithmetics on which the
teachers consulted were asked to give their
opinion. On that point the following tcs-
timony is submitted
.. The undersigned, in giving to the
Board of Education their views on the
subject %! ArithmeticS intended to express
their preference for Fronch's over all those
understood to be competitors, including
Greenlears, now in Use.
Signed by all but one of th0-o who re-
commended French's Arithmetic.
rRENcn's ARiTHvETIcS IL OTHER STATES
The Board endcayorei to decide between
the conflicting claims Of textbooks by per
sonal examination Of the books. and not by
external testimony in their favor. Still
we found ourselves confirmed in our opinion
of French's arithmetics by learning that
they had been 50 largely adopted else
where. From the IL, Of places in which
they are used, We will mention the cities OF
New York. Philadelphia, New Haven, Pitts
burg. Indianapoli. and san Francisco the
Normal schools Of Maine and New Hamp-
shire. thoscat Buffalo and Fred0nia, y. Y,
Lebanon. Ohio, and the Illinois Normal
University the entire State Of Nebraska by
official adoption for five years onc-laif Of
the schools Of Indiana and large number
of the cities and towns in Maine and New
HAMPSHIRE and numbers Of other schools
in all parts Of the country.
UNDUE INFLUENCE OF TIE SECRETARY.
ANY one who will read again the names
of the members Of the Board can see whether
they are men likely to be sweryed by what
has been euphoniously termed " 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 arithme-
ties abstained from sending any agents into
this field When the publishers Of the COM
peting books declined TO send copies for ex-
animation to the teachers consulted, the
Secretary, at his own expense, purchased
and forwarded the necessary copies DR..
French was not present on any occasion
when the subject Of arithmeties was under
discussion, or when the vote was taken.
AUTHORITATIVE And BINDING.
An anonymous circular issued in tie inter
estof Greenlcaf's Arithmctics and scattered
broadcast throughout the State. informs the
public that the action of the Board Is adj
visory. not compulsory. The Legislature
was not 50 short-sighted as TO enact
measure Of so great Importance to the
schools. and still Leave them to be proved
on by hook agents The law explicitly de-
clares that the list ">hall be and remain
authoritative and binding upon the Board
Of Education, supcrintendentsa and teachers,
and superintendent and teachers shall re-
commend for use, a. new books shall become
necessary for instruction in the branches
named. no other than the books included in
the said list" The assertion that Judge
Steele considered the action Of the Board
merely advisory. is uniounded. At the
last meeting of the Board which he at
tended, he expressed great Indignation 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 afixes no express penalty to the use
of other than the authorized books. That, |
however, is poor argument to address to Il |
lawabiding people, especially when en-
forced by no other reasons than those ola
agent Do the people OF
Vermont wish to have their children IN
structed in arithmetic or any other subject |
by the agency of firm which openly and
deliantly advises them to break State law,
and insinuates that it is possible u do 50
with impunity?
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 a
formal statement from US would be nnnee-
essary We are convinced, however, that
ftF atrr