Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-10-24
had been made. We quote from the re-

| icism. On the other hand it appeared that
| the Board had discharged their duties with
fidelity, and. as we think, in every instance
selection of text xt-books, it appeared that the
Board had taken the most scrupulous care
TO protect the State from Unnecessary
expense. It also appeared that the new
| list of textbooks Is upon the whole
cheaper than those now in use
1t Is our opinion that DR.. French is compe-
tent for the position he holds and that he
has thus far honestly, ably and faithfully
discharged the duties of his Office"
Foiled in this maneuvre, the agtators
return TO the attack through the press.
Now an article appears in ono newspaper
signed by fictitious name, then another
article in another paper calls attention 10 it,
then third from distant part of the Slate
catches up the echo, and it is perfectly evil
dent all the while that all these articles
have emanated from one and the same
source, one invarable conclusion being
reached in every instance, namely the su-
periority of Greenleai's Arithmetics. Ifany
persons have wondered why the Board
have kept silent so long while so much
scandal has been in circulation, it has been
owing TO their reluctance to be a party in
such despicable warfare.
FRENCH's ARITHMETICs.
An attempt has been made to rouse pub
lie prejudice against the action of the Board
because they adopted the arithmetics of
their own Secretary. They did 50 for two
reasons first because every member of the
Board considered them on the whole the
best arthmetics for Vermont, and second
ly, because five out of TIE six teachers con-
suited, ad vised their adoption. 1t seems
hardly respectful to the good sense of our
people to be obliged to say that in urjudg-
ment it was no insuperable objection to
good book that its author was q resident of
the State, and Secretary of its Board of Ed
ucation.
PROFITS ON SCHOOL BOOKS.
Statements have been made which are
entirely unwarranted, and ludicrously ex-
travagant, respecting the profits made on
school books. The publishers of Textbooks
extensively used, no doubt make good
profit out of their business, but it is the ex-
tensive sale and not the wide margin of
profits, which makes the business a 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 S.
Davis & Co., the publishers of Greeneafs
Algebra, written contracts to furnish the
prescribed textbooks, for five years to
come, at rates far more favorable to dealers
and purchasers than those which have been
paid in years past. The new list under
this management will save the State thous-
ands of dollars per annum over the old one.
AS 10 the per cent said to be paid by pub
fishers to authors-another invidous charge
against the Secretary-it is ascertained that
from two TO ten per cent on sales is the rate
| allowed for copyright. What is the amount
of copyright paid by the publishers to the
author of French's Arithmetic, or of other
| books on the list, we are not informed. Ev-
| cry textbook upon our table was paying
| copyright TO somebody. Why it should be
an objection TO book that it paid copy
| ri ght 10 citizen of this State, instead of 10
some one out orthc State is not clear to our
minds.
| THE PETITION oFTowN sUPERINTENDENTS.
There was laid upon our table docu-
ment purportng TO be petition signed by
large number of town superintendent
| against a change of Arithmetics. That doc
ument received a respectful attention. But
| when the matter was examined into little
more closely, it was found that some of the
| signers were not superintendents, that sew
| eral had in other communications 10 the
Board advised a change, and that the petit
| ton, SO called, was not a spontane Jus ex-
| eli Of lt,t fol hot I,o,l Ino
worked up by the agent and in the interest
of Greenlears Arithmetics. We therefore
| thought it not entitled to very much con-
| sideration.
THE TEACHERS OPINION OF GREENLEAF.
| 1t has been said that Greenlear's wereex-
clpded from the Arithmetics ON which the
teachers consulted were asked to give their
opinion. On that point the following testi-
mony is submitted:
"The undersigned, in giving 10 the Board
of Education their views on the subject of
Arithmetcs, intended TO express their
preference for French's over all those I'M
derstood to bo competitors, including Green
leafs, now in use."
Signed by all but one of those who rec
| <AilthhlttiCs
FRENCH's ARITHMETICs IN OTHER STATES.
The Board endeavored 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 opin-
ion of Fronch's arithmetics by learning
that they had been so largely adopted else
where. From the list of places in which
hey are used, we will mention the cities oil
New York, Philadelphia, New Haven,
Pittsburg, indianapolis and San Franchises;
the Normal schools of Maine and New
Hampshire, those at Buffalo and Fredonia,
n. Y, Lebanon, Ohio, and the Illinois Nor
NAL University; the entire State of Ne
braska hy official adoption for five years
one half of the schools of Indiana and a
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 THE SECRETARY.
Any one who will read again the names
of the members ofthe Board can see wheth-
or they are men likely to he sweryed by
what has been euphoniously termed "the
undue influence" of their Secretary. Alb
solute 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 in
directly, 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
ariihmetics abstained from sending any
agents into this field. When the publish
| org of The nnm nnIinn hook dnclin mod 10 snnl