The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-28

ly an hour. The average length OF Pro-
testant sermons may be stated at from 30
minutes to an hour"
A school Teacher writes ON the subject
OfText Books, dc.
Editors InlellIgencer:
While so many are giving their opinions
SO freely upon the different topics en-
crossing the minds Of our legislators per-
nit a teacher to say word upon the pro-
posed amendments to the school law.
True tho teacher is not looked upon as
knowing much about these matters, but
he thinks a great deal, and in these
thoughts there may be some ideas worth
considering. Tho teacher IS permitted,
perhaps, to know fully as much rs any
other the feelings OF his patrons concern.
ing not only the workings OF the law as We
now have it, but also their views as to the
effect Of the proposed changes. My
OPINION is that our Legislators should make
haste reryslowly in this matter. lido not
doubt that but each member thinks his
plan a good one, and that our schools will
b. much advanced by the special legisla-
ton proposed by them, but we apprehcnd
that careful consideration Of the matter
will force each one OF them TO the conClu.
sion that II is better to lot well enough
alone or 10 adopt the language: "BCtter
bear the ills We have, than fly to others
thot tvn tnnu, NOT nj
]. It issproposed 10 increase the State
school levy from 10 TO 20 cents on the
500 valuation. Now this at first sight
seems right and just and the principle in.
volvCd 10 a certain extent Is right, /. Q.
that the wealth OF the State should elu.
cate the poor OF the State. But is not this
the case to some extent already; do not
many Of the rich counties OF the State
pay at our present rate OF taxation many
hundreds and some even thousands OF
dollars more into tho general fund than
they receive back. This surplus goes to
assist the poorer counties. It seems that
the rich counties arc now willing to bear
this much burden for the general good
but will they be willing 10 bear it Il the
burden is doubled? And II not, and these
counties repudiatc the burden and thus
destroy our State system OF education for
they are well able and can and will edu.
cate their own children, will 1t not be a
great detrimGnt to tho cause in those
counties who arc not so able? These arc
grave questions and should commend
themselves 10 the careful consideration OF
our lawmakers. II is surely not expedi-
ent TO press this matter Iust now. All
things that are right, are not exnedient at
all times.
.. The text book question, that vexed
question, is again brought46tlIe front, and
a bill is likely to pass on that subject Civ.
ing 10 counties the right OF selecting each
Its own system of,books. This Is done to
save thousands Of dollars to our taxpayers,
but will lido it? Let us examine into
this. How will it lessen the cost OF books?
Will our book publishers lessen the cost OF
their books just to get the trade OF West
Virginia? Can they, or will they sell to
us cheaper than they will to other States?
II so let US have the benefit Of this county
adoption. There arc at least Sl30,0O0
worth OF books in tho FREQ schools OF our
State at present. Will any publishing
house in the country take up these books
and replace them with new ones without
cost to the patrons Of our schools? Ifnot,
there will certainly be great expense at
tending any change Of books that can be
proposed. But suppose that each county in
the State agrees TO retain the same books we
now have. Will the houses that furnish
our books sell any cheaper than they now
do? They cannot do this, from tho fact
that they sell to nearly every State in the
Union, more or less, and il they reduce
the price to us they will be forced to do
the same TO all their customers. This they
cannot afford to do, and will not DO 10 re-
tain their trade in West Virginia, and the
result will be that VIC will DO forced TO
have new series Of books from other
houses, and whcro is tho publishing
house that will replace the books we now
have free OF COST And II not there will
inevitably be an expense attending a
change.
STATE uniformity is certainly desirable in
our series Of books. 1t gives uniformity
Of instruction throughout the State. It Is
argued that teachers will only prepare
themselves in these particular books, and
therefore county or even district adoption
would BIO preferable, for our teachers
would then be forced To prepare them.
selves III all books. All havo to say 10
this is, that the teacher who is fit to teach
school is prepared TO teach the branches
to be taught, and not the textbook mere
ly, and that county Superintendent who
cannot distinguish between tho scholar
and the man who only knows tho certain
book is not fit to be an examiner. NV own
experience is that it matters but little
what the textbook Gu any subject is, II
the teacher knows his business,
But it is claimed that county adoption
will break up q monopoly by making our
books cheaper, Now, lot us see where
this monopoly is. We will take three Of
the books now in use In our schools for
examples. Mitchell's intermediate Geoc.
raphy is furnished by tho publishers for
81 10. III some parts Of tho State It rctails
for s. 90, and perhaps more. RAYS Ariths
met!c Is furnished for about ~ cents and
rretails for 70 cents. McGulcy's Speller Is
furnished fer y cents and rctails for Is
cents. Other books arc sold, no doubt, In
the same ratio Of gain. Now is tho mon.
opoly with tho publishers OF our books or
with tho retail dealers. Wilfcounty adon.
ton remedy thisp Or cannot it DO rene.
died and our books remain as they now
arc? 1t Is tho retail dealers in our rural
districts hat arc causing the high price Of
books TO be burden 10 our people, and Il
Is right and Just that the people should
know !, and knowing II tic remedy can
be easily applied.
That our legislators In their wisdom may
be guided by the highest motives OF right
and desire to promote the greatest good
TO our entire State, and above all to do
nothing to cripple our free schools is tho
WiHh Of A r., ,.,.,.,,