The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-12-11
Books for the County Schools.

Books for the County Schools.
Frequent complaints having been made
10 us. by our county patrons. of the expense
and annoyance to which they have been
subjected by reason Of the mandatory
change of books, and The fact that children
have been notified that they cannot attend
the schools unless they are provided with
the new series, we have been at some trouble
to ascertain the facts which made this action
on the part of the Superintendent and teach
ers necessary. They are as follows, ald for
them we are indebted to Mr.. Grattan, the
Superintendent:
On page 40 OF the Codifed school law will
be found this section, "School officers and
teachers in the counties and cities of the
State are instructed to require all children
applying for admission into the public free
schools to be provided with such books as
have been prescribed and duly selected &C.
cording to the regulations of this board and
none shall be enrolled or taught who are
not so provided
During the summer Of 1878, the then Su-
perintendent, DR.. Hamilton, appointed W.
Withrow, T. S. Hogshead and DR.. W. H.
Davis, as committee of the county school
board, to examine and report to the board,
in August, following, as to the best books
to be adopted for the next ensuing four
years thereafter. At the same time, DIR.
Hamilton appointed C. S. Roller, j. W. CAL
houn, NJ. W. Quarles, VIM. [. Stout and
J. NJ Stetfy, committee Of teachers to
perform the same duty. August the 10th
1878, these committees met with DR.. Hamil-
ton, and discussed the matter in all its
bearings and made some recommendations,
but not being able to agree on all the books.
adjourned TO meet on the 2lst of the same
month. On that day the joint committee
again met, and agreed upon report which
was made to the county school board then
in session, The county board adopted the
books now in use. These were then the
only legally authorized books that could be
used in the public schools, and in view Of
| their introduction for term Of years, the
publishers agreed to furnish them at re-
duced price, called the introduction price,
and to exchange them for old school books
| on the same subjects on being paid the diff
ference, which was called the exchange price.
but this agreement was only intended to
continue for limited time, until the schools
had had reasonable opportunity to supply
themselves. The session of rs and rs was
very trying one, and very little public money
was to be had to pay the teachers, so that
fewer schools were in operation and those
were in large measure supported by pri-
vate means. In consequence of this state
OF things the school authorities did not
beginning of this article, only to this extent:
that all books purchased were to be of the
adopted series, but parties having old ones
were permitted to attend school and use
them. AS consequence OF this, teachers
had to divide their schools into additional
classes and could Of course give less tim lie
and attention to each one. This course was
barely tolerated for the time by the board Of
education, and it became apparent at the
beginning of the session of rs and so that
| SOIn6 uAtu STU VI IcAt-DoOho WOuio udVo W
| be adopted. The first difficulty in the way,
was the Fact that the Bookse Tiers. very rea
onably, supposed the time for introduction
and exchange was exhausted, it being then
one year from the adoption, and refused to
exchange or sell at the introduction prices.
In this state Of things, Mr.. Grattan, the
present Superintendent, correspondent with
each one Of the publishing houses, making a
candid statement of the facts and giving the
reason why the introduction had not been
made, and asked for continuance of the
time until December the 1st 1879. The
| publishers without exception acceded to
this request as reasonable. Thereupon Mr..
Grattan prepared for publication list of the
books adopted, and exchange and publication
price for each, caused the same to be insert
ed in this paper, aud called the attention of
parents and teachers to the fact that the
change would be insisted upon, and advised
teachers to aid in the exchange.
This has been effected in all the schools
of the county except in occasional cases, and
in these notices have been given that the
offenders will have to be excluded.
This article is not intended to defend the
selection Of The county board, but simply to
show how it was done-that it is the law and
that it must be obeyed.