The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-08-14
THE scnooL BOOK QuEsrroN.

/ OCAOuMANs
| THE SCHOOL Book QUESTION.
To the Editor Of the Eagle:
DEAR SIR: Several Of the city papers hav.
ing thrown out insinuations ofscrookedness'
upon the part of the School Board in the
adoption Of books for the ensuing five years,
desire to make the following statement OF
facts in regard to the matter:
In the early part of June the Committee on
Text Books met and resolved to refer the
question of books to the teachers, and that
they should report what they considered most
suitable and give their reasons for such Sc.
lection.
At the meeting Of the Board June 18th the
Chairman Of the Book Committee, without
consulting the balance of the committee and
ignoring their reference to the teachers, pre-
sented a report to the Board, recommending
the adoption of the A. S. Barnes 4 Co. series
Of books throughout, giving az = reason that
he had received propositions from no other
houses. The motion was seconded and only
defeated by an amendment to lay on the Ia
BILE till report of teachers could be had. This
evidently prejudiced and unwarrantable ac-
ton Of the Chairman of the Committee, to-
gether with the doings of A. s. Barnes 4 Co.'S
agent, and the friends whom he enlisted in
his cause here. led several members Of the
Board 70 believe that Barnes & Co. were not
| trying to put their books Into Wichita on
| their merits but by the use Of unjustifable
| influences. Several members Of the Board
| resolved to defeat their cause II possible. At
the next regular meeting OF the Board, July
!, though still unpOssessed Of the teachers
report, the Chairman made another attempt
to get Barnes 4 Co.'s books adopted, and
was again put off until the teachers could be
heard from. In the meanwhile Barnes & Co.'S
agent left no stone unturned to present his
books in the most favorable light to the four
primary teachers who alone made the report
and spent six weeks here consecutively,
bringing into his active service not only the
Chairman, but as is well known here on the
streets, political and other influences only
known to agents that are yersed in the ways
that are dark and tricks that are vain. As u
result Of all their labOrs the four teachers
made report recommending thirteen books
Of Barnes 4 Co.'S series and six from other
houses. With this report the Chairman came
before the Board at their last meeting, Aug.
IA, and recommended that as the four teach
ers were so nearly in favor Of Barnes 4 Co.'S
series complete, and as Barnes & Co. were
not in favor Of making two bites Of such q
a nice cherry, that We adopt the whole series
and thus show our appreciation Of the teach
ers and-Barnes & Co. This report another
member Of the committee signed with the
Chairman, though he explained his signature
TO it at the Board meeting by saying that he
had agreed to leave the matter with the teach
ers, and meant bX his signature to second
their report. About an hour before the meet
ing Of the Board l drew up the minority re-
port, hereto attached, with view of break
ing this Barnes & Co. arrangement, but which
was assured would be impossible, they hav-
ing received pledges from the majority Of the
members. The result was better than we an
ticipated, and we were successful.
WICHITA, August 4, 1879.
To tie Honorable Board Of Education:
GENTLEMEN-Represent the minority
of your committee on textbooks, desire to
submit the following report:
Some weeks ago we met and requested The |
for adoption in the schools, and to give us the |
reasons for their preference. Four OF the |
teachers have presented a report. but given !
us no reasons for their recommendations. !
therefore took it upon myself this evening TO |
call upon one Of them and inquire into the |
matter.
First, as to the readers, she said they had |
(up to the fourth, think and that they |
thought the Independent excellcd in syste- |
matte arrangement in these grades. but that |
there not enough difference 70 juaify |
change, and that she knew all the teachers |
would be satisfied to continue the use Of the |
present Appleton's Readers and Spoilers. |
Then wherefore the expense Of a change, es- |
pecialy when these books were adopted only |
year ago. would therefore recommend |
that there be no change made in the readers |
and spoilers.
In arithmetic the teachers agree that Rob- |
inson's was the best. especially in the higher !
books than all others. We therefore recon- |
mend its adoption. The same - TO Sehuyler's |
algebra, and we submit that. They recon- |
mend Barnes history, but they have received |
adverse criticism to it, and that venables |
doubtless has ss many advocates and IL fur !
nished nj cheaper price. We therefore rec
commend venabies' United States History. |
The rest Of their report we concur in. and |
would recommend the adoption Of the books |
together with the following, which they arc |
silent in regard to-Eciecfic eopy-5ooks and !
Schuyier's geometry. The list, then, Is -
follows and as the teachers recommend, with |
but two changes:
App'eton's Readers and Spoilers.
Eobinson's Arithmetic,
Schuyier's Algebra,
venable's History,
ClArk's Grammar,
Eclectic Geography,
Hspbufn's Rhetoric,
steele's Geology,
80 Astxoa0my,
q Zoology.
:. Physiology.
:. Chemistry,
Eclectic Copy-Books,
Sehuyier's 6eo0etyy.
Respectfully, 4. 4. HYDE
NA1R1Ep.
Al the Daily Hounr in d. e3ey. ~ Rev.