St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-11-21

directly or indirectly with the Vermont
press concerning him or the Board.
We challenge the Board to prove the
contrary. As we have not attempted
to create public opinion. we should not
be held responsible for it.
3D. 1t is not true. that We ever at
tempted to secure i'll the Legislature
the appointment of Il committee t" IN
vcStimate the action of the Board OF its
Secretary. We defy the Board of Ed
ucation. or its Secretary. tn prove that
even Il friend of Grccnlea@S Arithmetic,
WAS the in>tiTator of that committee.
We sent no agent to Montpelier during
that session of the Legislature. But on
the contrary. if we are correctly i'll
formed, it was generally suspected that
the so called Investigating Committee
was instigated by Secretary French
himself, and WAS made up. for the
special purpose of endorsing the action
of the Board in relation to books. The
result. as anticipated, was eminently
satisfactory
lth. There Is an attempt on the part
of the author of the address, to which
the names of the Board are appended,
To place lis in false position in regard
W lllt vi plll NhN
five years past. we have furnished our
books to the people of Vermont on the
same terms us the new books are of
fcIcd. This we have done without any
written guarantee. Oar integrity and
upright dealing in the past, Is the best
guarantee for the future.
9TH. We deny that we have ever
"opcmly and dctiantlN advised the
people of Vermont to break Il State law.
The assertion is false. But on the other
hand, the author of the new arithmetic.
(accordiug To the construction of the
law. which the Board or its Secretary
would iain have the people believe was
correct. hut which they do not assert
since their actions us individuals
have not always been in accordance
with that view. if we are correctly in
fuImrd.) has repeatedly done 50 in diff
tcrcnt parts of the State, while holding
Teachers Institutes, one instance of
which is mentioned 10y the editor of the
81. John>huIy "Calcdonian. of Novcm-
Der. l-72, viz:
I'VE happen to know tritling cir
cumStancc respecting DIR. Frcnch'S
books. Two Years ago, and one wear
or more before the Board adopted his
arithmctic>. Il package of them WIS
brought t" It. Johm>bury at the time Il
session of tl,c Institute was holden here.
Dr. French WIS present. He had in
attendance certain teachers of High and
Normal schools. selected to assist him,
I y ho received pay for their services from
the state treasury. One of his assist
ants exhibited Dr. Frrnch'S arithmetic.
4
their school. 1t WAS announced that il
/ had been already introduced int"
several schools of the State. Certain of
/ the teachers refused 10 accept the hnnl,
/ with the view of Introducing il into
/ their >chuol> first. hccarI>, it would lee
( in drruwItinn of the law of the State ::
and second. it WaS in their judgement.
infcIio! To Grcrnlcat'< Practical Alith-
mctic. for which il WIS offered IL Il
substitute. one of Mr.. Frcuch'> assist =
ants did. however. require his scholars
To procure Frcnch'> Arithmetic. and II
WAS used in the school under his charge.
How the state Board has been able To
sustain its dignity. and tolerate an
official in thus permitting. To sly moth
ing moIr. the violation If Il Whnlc>on,.
law of the State. has been wonder To-
H."
Although Secretary French j. now
an ardent adNnc;Itr fnl sustaining Il
law which lac thinks may promote his
own interest. Vet he has encouraged.
during the last tU" uI three years. II
law ahdim" people. when enforced hy
n" "th"r reasons than Il book publish
rr'~ agent" t" break the law. 10y using
his Arithmetic. rather than those Iccurm-
mcndcd 10y Il former Beard. For
months past the Agents for French :
Arithmetic have been actively canvass
ing with the local Committees and
Teachers in the State to indIIcr them to
buy and Use his AIithmctic> and in
very few towns the books were pressed
int" schools September Isl. two months
before the time contemplated 10y the
action of the Board. as provided 10y
law. ROEEET : DAVIS \ Co..
Publishers If GrccHiut'S
Mathematical Series.
Boston. October ~. I-1:'.