Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-06-02

Well the School Book war is over, for
q time at any rate. and We are heartily
glad Of it. The State Board. consisting
Of Governor Bradley. Superintendent
Kelly and General Day. has seen fit to
discard the readers MEG affsy's) al pres
emit in use and order The adoption of
Sheldon's. Why the Board chose to
make this change and cause very heavy
expense to be borne by the friends and
parents Of the school children OF Nevada
we are not aware. We have not the
slightest doubt however that the Board
acted honestly and fairly and IN sds the
alteration because its members thought
the change would be for the better and
that the advantages OF the new books
would compensate for the expense of
procuring them. As to the merits of
the two sets of publications, We are not
10 position to judge, as We do not think
we have ever seen Sheldon's headers
and certainly not examined them. The
system is what we find fault with, not
with the action of the State Board. What
We contend for. 10 that no two or three
men should have the power to impose
tax of many thousands OF dollars ON the
people Of q whole State for the benefit OF
any mercantile establishment. When
clearly looked at, such are the powers OF
the State Board. For that reason the
Board ought to be deprived Of an au-
thority which may be 80 fearfulIy mis-.
used without any recourse or remedy.
The power to select the text books used
in the common schools of the State
should be vested in the trustees Of the
several districts. While they again to
some extent should be restrained by
salutary legislative restrictions as to the
avoidance Of sectarian literature, etc.
OF course that system would be open to
many objections. such as when children
change their residence into another dis.
trict. they might have to be furnished
with new set OF text books, and per
haps other Inconvenience will arise.
But of the choice Of evils We would take
the least. Under the present system
continual changes are being made
by two men who form the ma.
jority of the State School Board.
Their action is perfectly autooratic
There is no appeal from their decision.
No matter what may be the motives that
have lead to their decision. it has to be
endured and obeyed as implicitly as an
ukase from the Russian Emperor. Like
kissing. these things are very apt to 60
by favor. The recent explorations into
the exhaustless lead Of official misd ding.
teach every thoughtful observer this les.
son, that the less irresponsible power
that is placed in the hands of every Off.
cial body, the better for all purposes and
for all concerned. While again disclaim-
ing the slightest intention to insinuate
that anything but the purest motives
have or will actuate the State School
Board Of Nevada, We do protest against
it being invested with power to mulct
the parents or friends Of every child who
attends the common schools for the pc.
cuniary benefit of any school book pub
fishing firm or individual. We feel sure
that the Board would be glad to get rid
OF so onsrons and unthankful a respou.
sibility. Do what its members will,
they are suite to displeass and dsappoint
large number Of those who invoke their
aid. Doubtless they will be glad to
avoid the necessity Of making selections
which probably please no one but those
who reap pecuniary benefit from the
choice. The law should be altered at
the earliest possible opportunity.