The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-10-02
Ioa.RRyIN SCHOOL BOOKS.
Uuu,e..e swiadle that has Crept Hate the
Csumsn school System.

Csnm0n school System.
Several of the Western States are giving us
tbe advantage of important and valuable exper-
imeuts in legislation. The experience of Illinois
in dealing with the questions of minority repre-
sentation and the railroad tariffs cannot fail to
be of benefit to other states, however it may re-
snlt at home The equally important question
of the common schools is just now receiving
great attention in Indiana. Among other pro-
visions of the law providing for q complete reor-
gsnizatiou of the educational system Of the State
Il is ordered that no text book adopted by q
county board shall be changed within three
wears from the date of such adoption except by
the unanimous consent of the members of such
board The fact that snch a provision seems
necessary indicates clearly enough the extent to
which the county boards have been the instru-
ments of unscrupulous jobbery in the matter of
school books. Throughout the country the COM
plant of parents and taxpayers is universal. The
school boards form almost every here petty rings
of corruptionists who set themselves up for sale
to the highest bidder among the agents of pub
fishing houses. gentleman of education and
integrity, recently elected mayor of prominent
city, saws that he was astonished, on taking pos
session of his Office, TO find that positions on the
school board were more eagerly sought for among
the small political strikers than any other. 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 de
layed little while in making his nominations
and was waited on by the agents of several pub
fishing honses to learn what his intentions were
ave have no one TO recommend" they said frank
ly, 'bui would like Ia make th- parties onr
friends" The object of the candidates was to
sell their influence to the publishers ard the OBJ
ject of the publishers Ia have the school con-
Quoted solely with reference to the number of
their books the children could be made TO buy.
This sort of swindlng has attained proper
tiOns which are Scarcely credifable. In many
places the grading and subdivision of the
es of instruction have been carried so far that
a child must have new book for every few
months Pr"gress in any particular study. The
common rules If arithmetic are scattered through
half dozen volumes. A few years ago four COM
mon school readers were considered sufficient.
Now, under the PreteXt that The scholar should
not be allowed to become familiar with the text
he is reading, the series is stretching out indef-
nitely. New studies continually being added
to the course. Branches only lifted for advanced
classes made ridcnlonsly elementary for the
youngest children, merely to increase the de-
mand for srhool books. The smallest nrchins
are sent staggering off tO their schools with more
books than they can well carry, each containing
a homeopathic dilntion of u single idea. 1t would
not be So bad if there any prrmanence in
the text books adopted. There is after all very
little difference in merit between the different
grammars and arithmetcs. But often hefOre the
dogs ears have proceeded half way through the
book, the teachers, the committeeman and the
publishers come tO an understanding and an en-
tirely series is forced upon the school. Some
times the same publisher launches new hatch
from his shop, by means Of his relations with the
local authorities Sometimes a new publisher
supplants him with the board aud clears tie
desks and sarchels for his own wares The trade
has thus bre0uIe enormously profitable, and cor
ruptioh of conrse increases cOrrespOndingly.
The Sentinel Of indianapolis says that agents
from fifteen hOusrs are now '.raidng" the conn
ty boards of Indiana; and member of the board
never goes to the pOstOffice without a cart to