The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-16
The School Book Monopoly and
Some General Reflections Oh the
Cost of Living.
{ oYINGToN, September


CovINGToN, September Is.
To the Editor OF the STAR:
l find in your issue of yesterday an
article upon the subject of the price of
school books. 1t is, doubt not, a cor
rect statement, and a subject that you
gentlemen of the press, who are the ad-
visers of the public, should ventilate
until the evil is remedied. The article
truly says that many will not plead pov-
erty and take books from the State, and
therefore keep children from school and
permit them to grow up in ignorance.
In this State Kentucky l do not think
any provision is made to furnish books
to those unable to pay for the same; but,
on the other hand, many children are
sent home until they provide themselves
with proper books, states, paper, &c.
/ speak from experience when l say
that the many changes ordered by Trus-
tees are in the interest (whether so in
tended OF not) Of the great publishing
house on Walnut and Baker streets. |
have bought books the price of which
were as high as So 80 each which would
be used perhaps one term, and then
laid aside, and something else substi-
.uted, and in one case l remember hav-
ing to buy certain new edition OF
Webster's Dictiona. y, Notwithstanding
there were number in the house differ
ing gely slightly from the one bought for
so cents mink. or course, for the gen.
eral good it is proper to have good and
complete books; but to be constantly
changing such standard publications as
McGufey's, Rays, and Webster's, and
forcing the children to buy the edition
last issued, is, to say the least, taking
many dollars from very poor people for
the benefit of publishers who have the
exclusive sale Of such books, and is per-
verting the aim and object for which our
| Public Schools are organized. 1 think
| that any class OF men who amass for
| tunes in such manner can not be called
| benefactors OF their race.
Let us examine the case in practical
manner. Take the carpenters. know
many who are working Tor 81 SO per day, ,
and perhaps do not average five days
per week; say two hundred and sixty
| days year; making the sum of their
labor in a year $3.50. Suppose the family
to be of six persons and occupy two
rooms at rent Of SO per month, $72. Sup
| pose his table expenses are 81 per week,
$2o8. suppose his clothing Difl to be $40
each per year, $50. Suppose their boots
and shoes to cost per year So each, $50.
| Suppose doctor Is called three times,
So; he has to labor four days to pay for
1 the three visits. Total, $376. This
leaves balance OF $14 for the thousand
| and one things that family Of six re-
| quire, to say nothing of the drugs that
may be required or the 81 that may be
extorted in case the doctor has to make
sundry calls, and now ask you, do you
wonder why many mechanics are com.
PEELED to forego the duty of educating
their children When, perhaps, two OF his
to be unable to assist him, and shonld be
at school. But his willing soul is moi
able to furnish the many articles re.
quired because some board of trustees
nave ruled the books he has out, and the
publishers and dealers demands are
| such he can not meet. j. LIP,