New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-14
JOBBERY IN SCHOOL BOOKS.

Several of the Western States are giving us
the advantage of important and valuable ex-
periments in legislation. The experience of
Illinois in dealing with the questions OF
minority representation and the railroad tariffs
cannot fail to be of benefit to other States,
however it may result at home. The
equally important question of the common
schools is just now receiving great attention
in Indiana. Among other provisions OF the
law providing for complete reorganization
of the educational system of the State, it is
ordered that no text book adopted by county
board shall be changed within three years
from the date of such adoption, except by
unanimous consent of the members of such
hoard. The fact that such provision seems
necessary indicates clearly enough the extent
to which the county boards have already
been made the instruments OF INSCRIPTIONS
iobbery in the matter OF school books.
Throughout the country the complaint of
parents and taxpayers is universal. The
school boards form almost everywhere petty
rings of cOrruptionists who set themselves up
for sale to the highest bidder among the
agents of publishing houses A gentleman OF
education and integrity, recently elected
Mayor of prominent city, says that he was
astonished on taking possession OF his
Office to find that positions on the
school board were more eagerly sought
for among the small political strikers than
any others. Men who could scarcely read and
who had no incomes hustled for the privilege
of serving their country without salaries in
these places. The Mayor delayed a little while
in making his nominations, and was waited
IL 81 rlrnl iab
to learn what his intentions were. "We have
"no one to recommend" they said frankly,
"but would like to make the parties our
s'friendsr The object of the candidates was
TO sell their influence to the publishers, and
the object of the publishers was to have the
schools conducted solely with reference to the
number of their books which the children
could be made to buy
This sort Of swindling has attained proper
tons which are scarcely credible. In many
places the grading and subdivision of the
courses of instruction have been carried so far
that child must have a new book for every
few months progress in any particular study.
The common rules of arithmetic are scattered
through half dozen volumes. few years
ago. four common school readers were con-
sidered sufficient. Now, under the pretense
that scholar should not be allowed to be-
come familiar with the text he is reading,
the series Is stretching out indefinitely.
New studies are continually being added
TO the course. Branches only fitted
for advanced classes are made
ridiculously elementary for the youngest
children, merely to increase the demand for
school books The smallest urchins are sent
staggering off to their schools with more
books than they can well carry, each contain
ing homeopathic dilution of a single idea.
1t would not be SO bad if there were any
permanence in the text books adopted. There
is after all very little difference in merit be-
tween the different grammars, Biographies,
and arithmetics. But often before the dogs
ears have proceeded halfway through the
leaves of a book, the teachers, the committee
men, and the publishers come to an UNDER
standing and an entirely new series is
forced upon the school Sometimes the
same publisher launches new batch from his
shop by means of his relations with the local
authorities. Sometimes a new publisher sup
plants him with the board and clears the desks
and satchels for his own wares. The trade
has thus become enormously profitable, and
the corruption Of course increases correspond