National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-16
THE TEXTBOOK QUESTION.
FULL REPORT OF THE DEBATE IN
THE SCHOOL BOARD,

THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
school,, TExT-BooKS-DIsCUss ON THE
RESOLUTIONS -CoRNELL's GEOGRAPHY
TO BE EXPELLED-THE TEXTBOOK COM
MITTEE INSTRUCTED TO REPORT NEW
SERIES.
The following is sverbatim report of the pro
ceedings of the school board on Tuesday, April
IA, on the subject of change of biographies.
The report was made by Mr.. ]. o. Clephane,
the official stenographer of the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Champlin said: This question in regard
TO the change Of text books will occupy but q
short time, for presume IL the members have
made up their minds as to how they propose to
vote. ! doubt very much whether anything
will be said. The report of the committee on
rules and regulations for the prizes and exami-
nations expect viii elicit considerable discus
sion. move, therefore, that the minority re-
port be taken up.
moves that the minority report be taken up.
suggest that that is not the proper motion,
there being two reports before the board for
their considerations majority and 9 minority
report. The proper motion would be to pro-
coed to the consideration the reports; to take
up the subject generally.
The question being put on the motion to take
up for consideration the majority and minority
reports, It was agreed to.
Mr.. Wolf. ! offer the following resolution
in connection with this matter.
Whereas q great deal Of dissatisfaction ex-
lists in relation to the Biographies in the public
schools; and whereas the committee on text
books have by q vote of three to one reported
in favor Of the expulsion Of CornelPs series;
therefore be It
Resolved, That the whole matter be referred
back to the committee with instructions to re-
port series to take its place, and that the
same be made by our next meeting.
Mr.. Champlain. ! move to lay that on the
table.
The motion was rejected-yeas z, nays9.
Mr.. Wolf. would simply state, Mr.. Chair
man and gentlemen of the board, the reason
why have offered this resolution. We have
here q majority and minority report in regard
to q very important branch Of our school sys-
TEN; branch that has given great deal of
contention; in fact, II has been the bone Of con-
tention for years in the public schools. We
have q report before Us which gives rs no prac-
tical reason why one book should be thrown
out and another adopted; and if any one is to
be thrown out, what other one is to be adopted.
We are entirely in the dark here, and for one,
as young member Of the school board, am
entirely unconscious of the merits or defects of
one or the other of the books. therefore
would like to have full and exhaustive report
from committee in regard TO the defects of
the book that is to be thrown out, aud the ad-
vantages of the new book to be incorporated
in our school system; and for that reason
desire reference back to the committee for
further information. These are my reasons,
plain and simple.
NJ ~
given by Mr.. Wolf are reasons which appeal
very strongly to myself. Like Mr.. Wolff am
q young member of the board; but in regard
to this very important matter, for the last two
or three months / have endeavored to con-
scieutiously discharge my duty in regard 10
voting on this matter, either for or against this
school book. find out from all have been
able to CLEAN, while some teachers are in favor
of 1t, others are against 1t; that while some
trustees are in favor of it, others are against it,
so that have not been able really to come to
any conscientious conclusion In regard to the
matter, and, therefore, / had made up my
mind to vote against the change of school
books. Now, If this matter is referred back
again to the committee with the view ex-
pressed by Mr.. Wolf to have them present
something tangible for the board to act on, why
then we can do so. ], therefore, hope that this
matter will be referred back to that committee,
so that the junior members Of the board can
have something on which they can conscien-
tiously act, and do their duty toward these
public schools. 1t is very important thing.
] myself am heart and soul in the movement.
1 hope the motion will prevail.
Mr.. Hovey. Before the question is taken on
the motion, want to say simply this. have
q very decided opinion myself about geogra-
phies and l could give them If thought it was
proper, but am told that this book now in use
has been in the school but a very short time. l
may say also that in our part of the town the
people have not great deal of money to buy
new books with, and simply want to say that
all the votes shall give on this subject will be
to let things alone. IfIhad understood exactly
how to vote on the motion of tabling should
have voted. / did not know which would be
the best way. Irather thought it was better to
have Mr.. VOLTS motion carried, for If q new
bOOls ~as, proposed and we could not agree on
the DOCK, that woulo leave us with the old one,
and then the people would not be taxed to buy
another. That is the best way to accomplish
what think is our duty in this matter. III
understand 1t, this book has been in use but a
short time, and now to put it out without very
full trial would not command my assent, though
! do not speak of the merits of the book. ]
simply wanted to say in explanation of why ]
did not vote, that intended to vote upon this
question to let the books remain just as they
are when can see how my vote will affect
most IN LnaL QlrectlOns
Mr.. Hart. The mip(lhy of one Of the CON-
mittee on text books has been very shrewd in
the report which, - presented touch
at least appare2 lhe pockets of the people.
He is very sen y this point, and will
give him the to say that / think he
actually belize If what he says. And /
am just as W q that the gentleman
from the Thir Mr.. Hovey) who has
Just spoke Sincere. Iwould say that
when 1t cal Ated to me that what
they claim Il will, as have always
Dat spirit-in the spirit of
not throwi s. the money Of the people;
not throw Hay our money which is ap-
priated purposes. 1 now propose to
show convince any one who can
be con that the question is merely
brought dis discussion as an excuse, an
that tn Yis that change of text books -
No ey viii be saving to the people 81
in dollars and cents.
vi I'm prepared to show .sss5ss<p, prez
to showthat the people of Washn
children arc In the schools, have the
ssken out Of their pockets without any mercy
for the purpose Of having Q certain book con-
tinued in use. ! VIII leave this subject now,
aud give you q statement of the facts as regards
ID change of text-books-what the expense
the change will be very dsa Die one. Twin
read to you from the relaS1 the superinten-
dent Of the numbeHef in our schools in
September last. the third grade
Mr.. Woodward. I the Chair if the
gentleman is in order Gre is q question Of
reference.
Mr. Hart. These lemen have stated why
the reference should take place.
Mr.. Woodward. / do not care what they have
done. But viii state that that is not the
case.
Mr.. Hart. General Hovey has explained
Mr.. Woodward. just desire to raise the
point of order whether upon question ofrefer-
ence you can go into the merits Of the case.
The Chair, Mr.. Richards. The Chair is
Of the opinion that If Mr.. Hart is about to
speak to the merits of the case, he Is out of
order.
Mr.. Hart. I was speaking in the very point
advanced by the gentlemen on the other SIDE.
Mr.. Harris. It SCENE to me Mr. Chairman,
that the whole merits Of the question came up
under this resolution. Here are gentlemen
who state thst they do not know anything
about the merits or dement's of this book. /
think it is proper the discussion should proceed
in order that they may be enlightened. And
besides that would suggest that the merits of
the view entertained by the minority have been
presented in their report, and have been
touched upon in argument, and think there
fore Mr.. Hart ought to be allowed TO proceed
MT. Wolf. Mr.. President, simply desire TO
say one word in regard to this matter. / have
not gone into the merits of the case at all.
MI hat Tka =