Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-22
THE TEXT BOOK JOB.
Hhata Lending Educational, Paper Says.
boston National journal of Education.
Educational affairs in this Northwestern


Boston National journal of Education
Educational affairs in this Northwestern
State are receiving great deal of attention.
A bill passed the Legislature of last winter,
under which the State made a contract with
a certain party for all the textbooks for her
common schools. The bill was in no sense
representative of the opinions of the educa-
tional men of the State. It was piece of
robbery from the beginning and was pushed
through by the efforts of the fanatics and
demagogues of the Legislature. 1t was ex-
pected that mammoth printing establish
ment would be set up at the capital, and
that the profits would be large and certain,
as the State herself would be the sole pur-
chaser. But grave defects in the Jaw APP
peared. All efforts on the part of the con-
tractor to get the machinery in motion We're
futile. In the first place, it turned out that
there was no intention on his part of manu-
| featuring book. On the contrary, he mt
once sought to enlist some established pub
| fishing house in his scheme. This plan did
not meet with success. The law itself was
so loose i'll its phraseology, and the payment
on the part of the State SO uncertain, that
/ publishers decided to have anything to do
with the scheme.
Finally, however. late in the fall, the con-
tractor succeeded in obtaining series of
books. which were presented to the commits
sioners appointed under the law to examine
the books, and We're accepted by majority
of their number,-the State superintendent
voting in the negative. The series is one
which never met with success. 1t consists
of books made to order by one of the ma
chimes kept by publishers for that purpose.
Teachers did not want them, agents could
not sell them, and the publishers grasped at
the contractors scheme for forcing them up
on the schools of the State as being an easy
way of selling their unpopular books. But
they are likely to fall short of their cxpecta-
tons. Public sentiment has been aroused
by the imposition, and the Legislature now
sitting has been overwhelmed with petitions
for the modification or unconditional repea
of the law. Superintendent Burt, i'll his re
port, sets forth his reasons for voting agains
the books. This drew replies from othel
members Of the commission, from the autho
of the books, and from the contractor Tt
these Mr.. Burt gave decided treatment. FL
substantiates his position by direct proof
and by the confirming testimony of the lead
e ing educational men of the State.
g Meanwhile legislators began to see tia
Lueyy luuSl ueeu Iue stIoliS anu SIo"IiS way
of public opinion against the measure. 1t
still undecided, but the prospects are bright
c ening, The leading papers which have beel
a silent, or cautiously favoring the contractor
a are beginning to see where they must plan
e their feet. 1t is regretted by all that SO littl
opposition was offered to the project las
year. In Wisconsin a similar measure wa
d killed by the prompt and fearless course c
k Superintendent Soaring. 1t was the sam
story of the printers and jobbers at th
capital, longing for the fat of huge Stat
l. establishment. Had Mr.. Burt set his he'
: upon the matter i'll its infancy, as did NJ
, Soaring, Minnesota would not have been di
C graced by the law and its consequence
a But, considering the gallant fight which
: is now making, the people are disposed
n overlook the delinquencies of last year.
,e The latest development is propositic
from all the leading publishing houses
bond themselves to furnish any or all
at their books to the districts of the State
he prices as low, or lower, than those named
n the contract under this law. This is a powe
~ full argument against the law.