Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-01-27
HEFERoaENEoUs TEXT BOOKS

II the members Of the Legislature ana
friends Of our free school system sse'les-'
wish To raise pandemonium IN The
State over the subject OF text BOOKS they
will make a very SUMMARY disPosislep
Of all measures which seek TO destroy
uniformity, aud establish In ssoh county
a disastrous and perpetual contest and
dissatisfaction.
To have in eAeh eOanty not only
difference Of opinion on the character OF
the text books in use, but the inevitable
wrangling and bitterness which IL en-
genders between officials, teachers,
parents and children Of the same and
adjoining counties, Is destructive ot the
harmony that Is 50 desirable and that
should prevail in an institution which
IL designed 10 be. and is in tact, State
institution, amenable In all other re-
spects, 10 the same laws, and joined to-
gether in all its parts under one and the
same authority.
Why should this bone OF contention
be set up between the State superlnten-
dent and the county superintedentsi be-
tween the county suPerintendents and
the teachers; between the teachers and
the parents and pupils; between the
RnarI of Education and the public; and
between county Institutes that should
meet together in and b. united in one
common purpose for the promotion
IL a State institution
Why should such an obstacle be
thrust in the way ot poor children who
are frequently moving from one county
10 another, and who are unable in con
sequence, Ia have the advantages OF the
schools simply from an inability to Pur-
chase new books?
Why should every county in the state
be- oyrrrun with drummers for publish
ing houses, seeking 10y improper intiu-
encrs Ia create dissatisfaction with the
existing class books in order to make
sale oi new
Is ,herc any reason or excuse that
will Justify the enactment at such a
tumble? Are the county boards ar tho
county superintendents the only com
petcut persons, or often at all compe-
tent. la take charge at this mattsr2 Is
il not FAR preferable that the State
should maintain IL authority over the
character ui the text books used Ia the
extent. at least, Of retaining and using
the appointing power, AMI nominating
the prrsuns that shall make the srlec-
tions2 Would not a commission oi
eminent men men Of character and ok
pcrience named aud selected by the
State, insure more valuable, more
cheap, AMI in every respect more de
sirahlr class at text books to the schools
than will Tom, Dick and Harry, "
chosen ,udiscriminately through the
different countless
We have heretofore shown in the dis
russiou of this subject, that to estab-
lish such a heterogeneous plan as pro-
passed, throughout the state, ~ In
opposition la the lessons ui experience
that have always followed such "a system /;
it is opposed by our present state super
intcudcnt, who Is, In experience and
ability the most eminent educator ct
the state, as we'll a. by all his prrdeces.
sors; aud il is So full Of palpahlc and
inevitable evils a. To create a surprise
that il should have any considerable
support from intelligent Legislators.
We iorbear further to rritcrate and
cnumemte the evil consequences that
must result from the adoption OF such a
medley.
Cur object is simply to call attention
Ia "A section at a bill that has already
been introduced iu tho Legislature,
which not only obyiates all these objcc-
TONS. hut will be-, Il adopted, a perma-
nrut aud satisfactory disposition at this
whole subject The section oi the hill
tn which We alludc, provides as follows:
IS. A uniform series Of school books
shall be- usrdin the free Schools through.
out the state, ami the State Superin-
tcndent, together with fOur other eNpcr-
fenced educators, a. be- chosen by the
sr.....-..... hill ...ftaftNttF.. Al Nfuft
IL Commissioners GA text books, whase
duty Il shall he 10 take the control ami
supervision al the whole subject of text
books Tor the free schOuls Of the State,
with power to select, adopt aud pre-
scribe the books Ia be used in said
schools; hut before prescribing any
book or books, Il shall he their
duty Ia control with the
publishers thereof under suitable
penalties, Tor the price at which said
books shall bC sold to the pupils ui the
tree sch,nls ui the state, with fall
stipulatiOns as tO the quality at print
ing, paper, binding, etc, ut the same,
which stipulatiOns, together With all
other terms and conditions Of the con
tulrt, u shall bc their duty a. see fully
and faithfully complied with I'm every
particular All contracts with the pub
fishers shall he for a period ui i've
years, but should any contracting pub
Usher TAIL, from any cause, Ia comply
with his contrart, then said Commits
sinners shall have power, aud IL shalt be
their duty Ia supply the failure 10y such
other contract or contracts as they NAV,
in harmony with the conditions Ut this
section, deem il advisable Ia make,
The series ui books herrin provided
Tor shall embrace the following Subjects
(Same as In present laW):
I, should bc remembered that all the
hills that have been devised in this con
ncction, contemplate a change in the
present class oi text books. SOthat,
upon the question ofcCpnomy one will
he no morc objectionable than another
The class OF books now in use have
not been changed iur some years. The
opinion Is that there should now he
a