The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-02-17
CORRESPONDENCE
The County Superintendent OF Schools
The Way 20 Procure Cheap
School Books.

SCnGOl DOCKS
TThe following letter was not meant
for publication. but it is well written, and
refers 10 very important questions no"
heinz discussed, and so we take the llb-
erty of printing it.-EDIToR ANTI-Mo-
NOpOIIsT.
Feb list, 1876.
Editor Ants- Monspottst:
have it in mind TO write you con
Ecerning some of the questions coming
vbetore your committee; ana II tAty
shall be in any wise acceptable, or pro-
duc:iye OF good, shall he abunulnlly
repaid FOR the hour spent i'll writing you
Let me premise ~ stating that have
been superint ndent Of schools in this
county for four years, (neNt March).
LIST. Let the county superintendent
be elected as other county officers, save
that the candidates must be possessed OF
a certificate, as now required by law.
and that the state and the schools have
for the present year the ser res
of those who have y tull knowledge OF
the present condition Of the schools and
the teachers, rather than those Of an
inexperienced person, ''who VIII require
nearly year to obtain this knowledge.
Let the present superintendent remain
in Office until the new shall be elected.
The present system has resulted III
throwing out OF service some OF the pest
superintendents In the state, Tor IN
stance. Sanford Niles, OF Olmsted eoun-
ty: VIM. Prcntiss. OF Cottonwood coun-
ty :-and suppose III other cases others ;
these two were thrown out by toards oil
n.,~,c;,ta.S ~ iitf.riur pDlltleS
AS to the pay II the county superln-
taudent. let Ii remain As now, save taat
for districts having no schools he tie paid
a.. such district to nave tine Of $40 or
more assessed upoa them ior such latA
OF duty. hall to 20 10 the general .and
or toward tile school book expense here
alter 10 be mentioned. y ,upernten-
dent should take teachers snagal. :.
read much Of the lest OF newspapers .nu
periodicals and ls able to lose postage
and \ lew cents weekly in the way oi
aiding the poorer theachers 10 such text
books A. they need.
End. The school book question one
OF the greatest Importance do not ASK
the publishers ia relax their efforts To get
up good books aud attractive, but take
thi, course: Let the STATE buy OF the
publishers al tht So or IS per cent. of
from the retail price, and hold III stock
at three or four places throughout the
state. Let districts obtain their supplies
through the county superintendent. pay
ing enough Ia cover all expense AID q
tritle over. In this way the whole eN-
pense OF the department OF public in
struction may be paid. the same books
be had. and the rate be at the least cal
culation IS per cent. cheaper than now
l do not like the idea O. complaining oil
book publishers when two-thirds OF the
real profits 20 into the hands q Local
statiouers and book dealers. Under
stand me. | do not mean that the state
give the books 10 the people. but furnish
Them al from 20 10 IS per cent. OF the isl
price.
Again. throw out the present readers
y;eiuc in size and cost with the tamil,
Bible: 10 away with costly Crammars
Take language lessons; brief histories
concentrated vet ull arithmeticS; sucf
books as are now being sent togth -
several good houses. and you Will hav,
less complaint
lam truly and respectfully yours.