The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-04
How the New School Text Book Bill will
Work,


How the New School Text Book Bill will
Work,
From the ST. Paul Dispatch
There has been a general interest
manifested since the close of the Leg
1slative session in the manner of car.
rying out the provisions of the bill for
securing cheap text books
to the schools of this
State. The scheme was somewhat ex.
detrimental in its nature, land some per-
sons have prof ssed to doubt whether
1t could be made to work in practice.
But the way seems now to have been
smoothed for Its operation, ard all
that remains to be done is, for the
officials charged with it's execution, to
perform their duty. The Dispatch,
knowing the public desire for infor-
nation on the subject, has secured an
interview with Mr.. D. d. Merrill, and
from him, and other sources, learned
the following facts:
The books to be supplied will he of
the best quality. The names of tho
commissioners of revision is one suf-
fcient guaranty Of that, and the self
interest of the contractor is another
guaranty.
A portion, at least, Of the books can
be had during the coming summer and
autumn if the school district clerks
make out and forward to the county
superintendent the number. of each
kind OF books that will be needed in
their districts for the next years sup.
ply. The people are interested in look
ing after the matter and assisting their
school district clerks in making out
their acquisitions, and, if possible, to
get them in the hands of the several
county superintendent of schools be-
fore the 18th of April next.
The contractor, Mr.. D. D. Merrill,
has entered upon this ENTERPRISE in
good faith and will accomplish all that
is promised for the benefit Of the peo-
pie, If only they give it a fair trial.
Twill the people take the books ?''' is
the question asked by some. We be-
lieve they will for manifest reasons.
These books will be had at one-half
price. At least fifty per cent. of the
scholars in all our schools have to buy
new books each year. If the old kinds
of books are still used, these fifty per
cent Of the scholars will have to pay
as much money for their half of the
books as it would cost to supply the
whole school with the new books,
(which will certainly be equally as
good books as those in use), and the
people will not be slow to avail them.
selves of these advantages. -.
The people will feel that when they
make this change ''that it will last
there will be NO changing books with.
in districts, and the books will last
till worn out, and the people will feel
secure against any outside influence to
force a change.
For the benefit Of all we append a
list of the books the school districts
can order and obtain at the low prices:
Speller, First Reader Second Reader,
Third Reader, Fourth Reader, History,
First Grammar, Practical Grammar,
Primary Arithmetic, intellectual Arith-
metic, Practical Arithmetic, Primary
Geography, intermediate Geography.
We presume that the State Superin-
tendant of Public instruction will also
furnish copy books (six numbers, a
word book, the geography and history
of Minnesota, and such other books
as may be needed in the district
schools.
A successful working of this plan will
save at least one dollar year for each
child attending school-an important
item in the aggregate. It is now the
law, and it is certainly obligatory on
all to give it a fair trial.