Daily globe., 1882-03-02

all times, With the exception OF one or
two of the higher grades, who are allowed
to take home not to exceed one book at a
time, and their lessons are studied in the
school room during school hours.
The result is, the books last much
longer, arc clean, free from pencilings
and obscene drawings in Newark, whereas
in New York by allowing pupils to take
their books to their homes, many of them
receive bad treatment and must
be replaced much oftener
than under the Newark plan.
| have IN my possession three books
taken from class rooms of the Nor
ton street public school of Newark, N. j.,
which was allowed to take in order to
convince you how long school book can
be kept fit for use.
First-The Song Garden, placed in the
class room in 1854, has since been in
constant use, and of which there are
many in the class fully as old. Its pres
ent appearance indicates that is has not
past its infancy and that with treatment
equal to that Of the past, it would reach
a ripe old age.
Second-Sander's Reader, placed in
the class room from which. l took it in the
year 1875. This class. has about sixty
pupils and at least four -fifths of the read
ers now in use in that class are of the
same date and time of service, aud none
were placed there later than 1878. This
book is still good and no better than
most of the readers in use in the class.
Third-W Wordbook of English Spell
ing, in constant use since 1875, and this
book, like the other two shown, is fair
sample of the age and condition of the
books of its kind in the class room from
which it was taken. Here is an illustra-
ton of as good lesson as can be taught
in any class room--cleanliness, order, re-
spect for law, sacredness of public prop
erty are constantly before the pupils, and
very seldom is this lesson lost sight Of by
them.
The pupils are taught from the very be-
ginning that the books, etc., are loaned to
them by the city, and any loss or damage
must be paid for or expulsion from the
schools will follow. A mark of any kind
is an injury to the property, and must be
made good. In the report Of MIR. Soaring
Superintendent of Instruction of the
State of Wisconsin, in 1876, 1 find many
favorable responses to the inquiry made
by him as to the efficiency and economy
of the free textbook system from Patter-
son, N. j., Newark, N. j., Trenton, N. j.,
Fall River, Mass, Lewiston, Me-, New
York and other cities. He says: 81 un-
reservedly favor the free text book sys-
tenn. Additional reflection and additional
knowledge of the successful experience OF
school boards with the system IN other
states have but confirmed my belief that
in free books larger number of satisfac-
tory results to the schools and the people
center than in any other adopted or sug-
gested plan of the textbooks supply
Again, in the same report: "Free text
books are already to be found in many
districts and towns of this state, and are
giving great satisfaction. They will yet
prevail. The saving Of nearly one hall
the original cost, the removal of the last
exception to the absolute freedom of the
schools, the economical use of books by
successive classes, the less frequent
changes when school boards have the re-
sponsibility of purchasing and caring fol
public property, instead Of merely dictat-
ing what others shall purchase, and care
for, the absolute uniformity secured to
the extent that is really essential in dis
tIlCtS duu IOW WuouIpo, oHu eAO I'LL oau
prompt equipment of the schools with the
books at the beginning of the term, these
land others,) great and manifest advan-
tages will yet make free text books
everywhere the adjunct of free schools.
In this belief we were supported
by the formal approval of the state con-
ventions of local superintendents last
winter, we are supported by the most in
telllgent teachers of the State, by several
of the ablest and most experienced sup
erintendents of public instruction in the
eastern. states, by educational writers
there, including the editor of the educa-
tional department of the atlantic Monthly,
by successful trial there, and, most OF all
| by the plain teachings of political econ
omy." :.
In addition to the foregoing comment
and figures, L have obtained from the re-
ports of the Board of Education of the
CITY of Philadelphia, the cost of furnish
| ing Free books and supplies in that city
and find that the average cost including
Normal, High, Grammar and Primary
schools is about IS cents per annum
But citation need not be further added,
free text books are no longer in the do.
main of experiment, from all quarters,
where the system has had a fair tria
comes the same certificate of approval
There is no good reason why, in this en-.