The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-03-11
THE SCHOOL BOOK MONOPOLY.

acting giant, that is never satisfied. Inc
cost of school books to the people OF
Ohio and other S'atesis enormousin the
aggregate, and the profits to the publish
ers immense. For years we have been
convinced that some action should be
taken to break down the grasping iniq'
uity, and rescue the people from this
outrageous robbery.
We have not had much faith in reach
ing the monopoly by legislation, In
that field those interested have the
means to exert an influence, and the law
making power is more likely to be in
Auenced by them, or in their interest
The present bill, now pending in the
Legislature, known as Wilkns's bill,
squints that way. 1t provides that each
Board of Education shall determine, at
regular meeting, by anafirmative vote
of three .fourths of its members the
studies to be pursued, and the textbooks
to be used in the schools under its con
troll" And mo Textbook shall bechan'
ged within three years, without the con-
sent of three fourths Of all the members
of the Board Of Education"
1t is claimed thatif this bill passe5and
becomes law, it will rivet the chains Of
the school book monopoly upon the peo'
pie for years to come. The Cincinnati
Commercial says;
"The whole bill is dictation of Van
Antwerp, Bragg & Co., and their agents
and paid lobbyists have been busy for
weeks in its interest. Money has been
freely spent, but not without hope of
handsome and lasting profits on the in
vestment. The agents of Van Antwerp,
Bragg & Co., can afford to carry on the
campaign they are now conducting, for
the success of their present scheme will
be to put thousands OF dollars a year
into the firms treasury. If the Cincin'
natl firm can increase it's revenue from
the sale of school books in Ohio to the
tune of 100000 per annum, it is fair to
reason that the "dear people," in whose
interests it claims to be laboring, are by
some means made the poorer to that ex'
tent"
There are book publishers who make
quite as good books and sell them much
cheaper. For instance, the Eclectic ser.
les of Arithmetic, cost $3.50; and another
publishing house in Cincinnati offers
series equally as good for IS cents. In
purchasing 100000 sets, the difference
would be $l75,000 in favor of the latter,
certainly a good saving to the people.
An exchange says: Garry the Compar-
ison through the entire list Of school
books used in the State, and the differ
ence between what good text books may
be obtained at, and the price Van Ant
werp, Bragg & Co., (the Eclectic pub.
lishers) sell them for, will doubtless ap-
proximate $4OO, 900, and 1t is quite as liza
BILE to be above as below this pretty
figure"
We are not sure but it would be good
idea to require teachers to teach without
books, except few reading books. This
plan has been tried and succeeded pret-
ty well, By means of blackboards, maps,
states, &C., and a competent teacher, much
may be done without loading down each
pupil with text books. Good scholars
were made when text books were not 30
lavishly supplied.
We hope to see this bill, now pending
in the House, defeated. 1t has passed
the Senate, where it originated. Boards
of Education have always had the power
to prescribe studies and books. Where
fore the need then of additional legisla.
tion2 Is it to bind our people more de-
basingly to this giant monopoly If this
is not the object why do the Eclectic pub
fishers beset the Legislature, to secure |
such lawp
One of the costliest features of our
school system is the book item. Many |
parents find themselves too poor to sup-1
ply their children with books, and are
to keep them out of sChool.
This shows that the interest of the peo-
pie demand the breaking down of the
jchool book monopoly. There ought to
% an awakening and a general move
nent in the direction of reform in this
important matter. Each Board of Edu-
,ation should look INTO the subject, and
Ict in the interest of the people.
Since writing the foregoing, we came
4cross the following, in the London
Canada) Advertiser, which should be
houghtfully read by teachers and all in
crested in the education of youth:
TEACHING WITHOUT TEXT BOOKS.
% the Editor of the Advertiser:
SIR-In my opinion, every teacher
II rural school would we'll to adopt
he system advocated by Inspectors No.
an and Alexander, and dispense with all
ext books, except the readers and SPELL
ng books, from the third class down.
Yards; in fact the spelling book might
,e done away with equally as well, and
my advantages gained by it could be at.
aimed through grammar and compost.
ion exercises. Your correspondent in
ast weeks issue asks, How can the tea.
her advantageously occupy the time of
he pupils while examining another
lassP" l think this difficulty can be
asily and most satisfactorily overcome.
)f course this will involve the previous
preparation Of questions to be submit.
ed on the black board, to be wrought by
he pupils in their seats. These will be
fterwards examined individually by
he teacher, who will at once discover If
heir time has been fully occupied, and
Vill at the same time find out where any
weak point lies in the working of the
Al