The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-05-16
TIE scHooL nook oUEsr1oN.


Facts vs.. Imagination
1. The late legislature passed an act
making it mandatory on school boards
to adopt series of books in each branch
of study, and it prohibits their being
changed for five years thereafter.
2. In accordance with the provisions
of that act, boards are considering what
changes are wise, and publishers, through
their agents, are active in presenting
their respective claims for patronage.
3. The article in yesterdays News ap-
peals TO the money side of the question
only, and it will be sufficient for the
present to give information on that phase
of it.
The contract with the publishers of
the readers recently adopted, binds them
to give low terms for introduction, as
classes are promoted and mast hare neac
books Gnytoc, until January, 1880. The
prices and operation may be illustrated
by a single book. Suppose a class of
40 pupils has finished its present second
reader and is promoted to third reader.
At the outside, not more than ten of them
will find an old third reader at home fit
for use; 30 must buy new books, and if
no change had been made they must pay
the present price of 20 cents each, or
the class pay $22.50. To promote the
class then To the next reader will cost
$3.50. But the introduction price of
the new reader is 30 cents; 30 books will
cost 50 times 30 cents, or $1,000. But
these 80 can turn in their old second
readers at II cents each, making $500.
The I'D who have third readers can ex-
change them for the new by paving a
difference of 20 cents, making $500 for
10 pupils. Thus the cost to the thirty
who get new books is really $1O.5O, less
$500, which is $500 The $500 which
the 10 remaining pupils pay makes the
entire cost of promoting the whole class
to the higher reader $3.50, thereby saw
ing the difference between $22 so. what
the present kind of readers would cost
them, ant. $500, the cost of the new. or
$780,
But, II Is not only in the first supply
that money is saved but in all future
purchases. To show this, we will deal
only with retail prices. The new series
OF readers consist of five books only, and
Is SO arranged as to entirely obviate the
necessity OF separate spelling books. The
retail prices which the citizens of Empo-
ria have for years been paying are as fol-
lows:
Independent first reader, CSC; second
Soc; third, roc. fourth, Sc. fifth, 81. 25;
sixth, $3.50; two spoilers, 4Oc.; total,
$3.50. The retail prices of the new books
are: Appleton's first reader, 25c. ;second,
4Oc.; third, SEC. fourth, roc fifth, $1.25
total, $3.l6. That is, each pupil who re-
mains in school long enough to need u
full set, will save $2.34 1000 pupils
will save not less than $4,000
These are facts, and we dare ANYBODY
to successfully cOntrovert them.
In behalf of the teachers and board of
education, L desire to say that they have
taken the trouble to investigate this sub
Ject, and ii is almost the unanimous
opinion that the readers just adopted are
the best published, and the above facts
show cOncluSiYely that it is a good finan-
sal investment for the community. Con.
tracts have been made with the publish
ers, securing the lowest possible rates for
years. A year will be occupied in MAX
ing the change. Pupils will change books
as they change classes, and will have the
privilege OF turning in any of the old
books at good price
Something should be said in answer
to the abusive statements and misrepre-
sensations in the article in Yesterdays
News, but in presenting this for publ
cation favor is asked, and do not wish
to trespass on your patience by present
ing long and retaliating reply. would
only suggest that if the teachers you en-
ploy are paid better salaries than they
can earn elsewhere, it becomes necessi-
ty on account of just such abuse as is
presented in that article by people who
never take the trouble to acuuaint them
selves with the facts. 1t might also be
suggested that the article paid a fine
compliment to the nine-tenths of the peo-
pie whom it claims to represent. They
certainly should be disenfranchised for
electing such corrupt board, and al
lowing such dishonest set of teachers
to remain year after year.
As matter of fact there have been no
changes in textbooks in the past two
years previous to the one Just made, and
this was made by direct action of the
board, no teacher being present except
the superintendent, whose duty it is Ito
be present at all meetings
BUEL I. DAVIS,
Supt City Schools.