The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-19

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Those supplies are put Into tho hands
Of each teacher, and under proper rogula-
tiohs they aro given out to every scholar
as may Do required, and an exact record
I and report made OF the same. As will be
seen by tho above rules, any abuse or de-
facing Of the boOks-more than the ordi-
nary woaF--is expressly forbidden, and
any loss or destruction Of them subjects
tho pupil to the penalty Of replacing the
same. The consequence Is that tho books
arc generally kept clean and neat, and
the larger and more costly ones arc COW
cred, aud usually pnss through from four
TO six hands, to DO successfully used BY 40
many different pupils,
Every parent whose children attend
our public schools knows to his cost that
the new books required almost every
term arc serious item OF expense. This
isespecially burden upon the poor and
hard working classes, Many a father and
mother In Cleveland arc straining every
nerve, seraping and saving, to keep their
children decently clothed and in regular
4 attendance at school, with thomost praise.
worthy ambition, that by giving them
good education they will open for their
children higher career In life, and make
them useful and honored members Of So
ciety. When they reach the age OF twelve
or fourteen they can earn something
towards their support, and II requires no
. little sacrifice and Golf.denial In tho
parents 10 keep them nj school. This
class Is surely entitled 10 our sympathy
and mid.
An instance came to the knowledge Of
the writer but n few days ago where
bright and intelligent German girl Of
fourteen was taken out Of school because
her parents were unable to provide her
with the necessary books.
Tho first, and perhaps only objection
TO FREQ text books that will suggest itself
10 the taxpayer Ia tho expense to tho
public funds. Now, let us examine into
This matter, and count the cost.
We have have an average attendance
In our Cleveland schools Of say 10000.
From Tie best information the writer can
obtain and from his personal experience,
the cost Of text books and stationary to
each scholar, taking the average Of all
grades from Primary to High Schools, Is
not less than Eve dollars year, making
on aggregate Of $4,000. The books arc
bought at retail, sometimes paying two
OF three profits before they reach the
scholar. a pencil costing by tho gross
two cents, Is retailcd from eight to ten.
IA quire Of paper, worth by the ream ten
cents, Is sold lot twenty-five. An ordin.
afy school book ID retniled at nearly
double tho rate at which II might be con.
tfacled for from the publishers. II ia
tair 10 estimate that fully one-hall the
$4,000 might be saved 10 the people II
these supplies could DO bought Of tho low.
est bidder In large quantities Now, OK.
petiehce III New York has shown that all
the more expensive books will answer for
Several pupils, 40 that VIC may safely take
ons-hall the $4,000 and perhaps one
Third that sum as the actual cost to the
school fund for all the books and station.
AIRY required for our 10000 pupils. Do
YOU say that this estimate is to low
Wei, here Is the proof that these Gg.
utes are substantially correct.
The average attendance In the city OF
New York during the year 1874 was
,10s,5bO. Ehe, aggregate sum expended
tOf supplies Of this class was Sl35,70S 20 |
iAot 81 g 10 each scholar. In every
school an exact account Is kept, and the |
reports show the average cost per scholar
ia each school and In every grade. TAX.
Ing these figSes as d basis tho net saving
tothe public In our city will be at least
10000 d year. The adoption Of this
plan should be gradual. The great mass
81 booksnoW in use need not he changed
Only those hereafter required should be
ftthieied from limo to time M needed
HAbitsOi care and healhess In the tisc Of
books belonging 10 the city will be i'm.
pressed on the pupils, and under proper
regulations the teachers will deal out tho
pefiahdble articles Of stationery with
proper discretion. II careless child
loses d pencil every day he must not ex.
poet II 10 b replaced at the public ex.
pehse. The annual report will show the
relative Gust Of such supplies 10 each
fcb9ol, aud will act IA q check on extfav.
aeatcd and waslefulness.
Thewfitet, whose oldest child was sent
fifteen years ago to the primary school,
aud whose youngest Il now In the high
school, claims tie right 10 speak from
personal experience, A pile Of books
bit little worn, but now mostly useless
from the changes In text books, attest that
although oIt public schools are free Of
tuition they arc not free Of cost to the
patent, Having served on the Text book
Committee In tho Board Of Education, he
knows what 1t Il to DO bored by the I'm.
potlunalo agents Of school book pub.
1ishets, and believes that text books are
too frequently changed, Tobe sure, these
agents always propose to change free Of
cost I'LL the books In the hands Of the
scholars, but they never ofIot 10 take
back al the half.used books which the
tateiul parents have saved for the
younger children, and which the change
renders useless. II tho books all belong.
Cd 10 the city tho Board In adopting
new and improved text book would do so
only upon condition that tho public aus
gaihs no losa.
II may 10 said that opposition to this
will como from the Wholesale
aud retail dealers Ii school books. But
II 4 not to be credited that the sellers Of
books Ate 20 Sotdid as for their private
hsl;o oppose any measure that will 70.