Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-16
The school Book Question

Editor Saviour article in last nights
STAB, headed Triumph of the School Book
Lobby" Is, think, a little ahead of the times
It takes twO-thirds OF the whole Board of Trus.
tees to change a textbook. There were bat ten
votes in favor of Mr. VOLTS resolution to re-
commit, not . majority even. Three of the ten
were not ready for change, one Of whom spoke
against it The matter stands thus: The COM
nlIttee on textbooks must agree on some book
CT books to take the place OF Cornell's. When
they have reported to the board, if they can
agree, their report lies over until the next stated
meeting, when IL will require fourteen votes to
a6opt 1t. SO that to say that s'the book dis
CcrIect. Do you see II? y.
Ii would appear from the above that some of
the Trustees voted tor the resolution under u
nisconception of its terms. The resolution
reads as follows:
whereas, a great deal of dissatisfaction exists
IN relation to The Biographies in the public
schools; and, whereas, the committee on text
books have, by q vote or three 20 one, reported
Therefore be 10
rack TO the committee, with instructions TO re-
port series 10 take its place, ana that the same
be made by our next meeting"
This definitely instracts the committee to
"reIort a series to take the place. of Cornell's
geography, and they are further instructed to
hurry up the job by the next meeting. The
grand army OF parents who have been so con-
books, will be glad 10 hear that the vote on the
resolution does not really carry the question,
and that it will require a two-thirds vote to
Change or adopt q text book. As regards the
inability TO agree on any other geography we
learn that the project is 70 take one each of
"Guyot's," "warren's," and "Our Worlds
thereby making up a combination series to
Gust COrneIl's.
We have another commun mic alton onplaining
of the charge made by The STAR that "Cor-
nell's geography was thrust on the schools only
a few months ago by the same system Of drum
ming and lobbying that has now been brought
into play so successfully to effect another
change" Our correspondent enumsrates the
defects in the geography superseded By Cor
neils, and says that the change vas m sde on
the recommendation of the committee on text
books by vote OF Ito 3. He adds:
" Corneirs series we're used for the first time
IN September, 1872, and no complaints have
been made to the board by any of Its members
regarding the book. No influence was used hy
the agent for Cornell other than to furnish
members with a set of books, and direct their
attention to comparison between the two. No
influence was used or attempted by outsiders
and, in fact, il my memory serves me- bat little
interest Was taken in the matter by others than
trustees. The agent for Cornell Mr.. Soper) is
gentleman, and would not stoOp to do a mean
CT questionable action in order to accomplish
BIS purpose, but depends solely on the merit
the series"
AS We have already stated, we do not propose
10 take any sides in the fight amongst the pub
fishers further than to protest against the con-
tinual changes made In school books for thei
benefit. Doubtless there were faults, as pointed
out by our correspondent, in the geography
(Warren's) ousted by CornelI's; doubtless there
are faults in Cornell's, and we have no doub
that quite as many faults can be pointed out in
the present competing Biographies. What W
contend is that. If the present geography was
msritorious enough to be recommended BIZ a,
competent committee on text books as Messrs
Mcclellan, Harris and Champlin, and adopted
by the decisive vote of II to 3, there is reason
why II should be so speedily displaced, and the
pockets Of parents plueked TO buy q new series:
the more especially as this is but the entering
wedge to other changes in school books.