Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-10-25
SCHOOL BOOKS.

The Law TO be Voted Upon at the Coming
Eiection-Facis for the Consideration Of
the Voters Who Desire Good Books Al
Chesp Rates-why the Present Law
Should be Continued.
To Each Elector in Minnesota.
Dear Sir: Az a county SUI erintendent OF
schools for g number OF years. have had
abundant opportunity to know of the practi.
cal operation of the uniform text book Law,
and inasmuch as the question of continuing
the law for further period Of five years is to
be submitted to popular vote at the coming
election, I feel it duty to call your
attention to q few facts.
You must recognize the fact that the uni
form text book law has secured to
the people of this State, good boots, at
unprecedentedly low prices.
That the books are uniform throughout the
State, SO that the people as they move from
one place TO another are not required to buy
new books.
That teachers can be familiar with the books
in use in all the districts, and be able to begin
their work at the opening of school.
That if new methods and better books are
produced from time to time, they can be
adopted at the end of five years in place
of those now in use.
That the contractor cannot raise his prices, nc
matter how much the increase in cost of man
ufacture 20 him.
ALI of these things are of great material ad-
vantage TO the cause of education and to the
interests of the people of our State.
The fact that whatever opposition there is
on the part OF any of our people arises mainly
from the labor and responsibilities imposed
4lao ~ oil hon hnoE
without pay (other than securing books cheap
for their own children} will readily
suggest that the law may be so modified
as to relieve the clerks from handling the
books, where they so desire, and to include
whatever other Improvements which experience
in the operation of the law has shown, are need
ed to render the law more efficient.
I confidently trust that you will unite in Sc
curing continuance of these advantages by
aiding the people to an intelligent support of
the law by their votes in favor of it at the cleo
ton. a negative vote is not q cote to amend
the latc but vote to abolish IL altogether, and &c
back to the higher prices and repeated changes
which prevailed before the law was enacted anG
tchtch benefit none but the book publishers au6
their agents. lie the law is sustained at the
election, the legislature can next winter correct
any details which have been found to be OBJ
iectlonable for it is hardly possible that a law
which works a reformation of such magnitude
should be made perfect at the outset. TIL.
books are now used with general satisfaction
in all the schools in fifty-two counties. which
contain 2,372 school districts. In the remain
ing twenty-five counties the books ere used IL
1,l50 districts out of 1,629 districts in tho,e
counties, SO that st least $500 dis
tricts are already using the books on
of 1900 districts, the estimated number Of
school districts in the State.
4 change no,o Mould settle everything ana
,Uork great injury to us, in all Departments o.
our district schools, and be great expense I
our people.
1 append statement showing the com para
tive value, in dollars and cents. Of the lay
To us.