Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-27
HOW THE CHANGES WE'RE MADE.
An Official investigation To-day Of the
Textbook Question.

TESTIMONY TAKEN By COMMISSIONER wEsT-rHR
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND SEVERAL BOOK
SELLERS EXAMINED-MR. BALLANTYNE DENIES IN
SITUATIONS MADE AGAINST HIM-EvIDENCE SHOW
ING THAT THE CHANGES WE'RE MADE BY A COM
MITTEE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD-A PROPOSITION TO
ABOLISH THE BOARD.
Ten O'Clock this morning was the hour set by Dis
trtct Commissioner West for beginning the pro-
posed investigation into recent complaints con-
cerning the changes made In the text books in the
public schools At that hour Superintendents VII
son and Cook, OF the public schools; Prot Butter
field, teacher Of music In the schools; Mr.. c. B.
Rheem, secretary to the school board; Mr.. William
Ballantyne, Mr.. r. Carter Ballantyne. and VIM.
II. Morrison, stationers; Mr.. Henry c. Spencer, Mr..
VIM. Pierce Bell, attorney, and other gentlemen
were present
THE INFORMATION SOUGHT FOR.
When Commissioner West, who conducted the
examination, arrived, he stated that the informa-
tion had been sought for from the board OF trus-
tees, and no satisfactory response had been made
II had therefore, been decided to seek the informa
tfon elsewhere. The Information sought was en-
braced under the following heads:
First Precisely what changes II any, have been
made in the text books OF the public schools
Second. Who authorized such changes, and what
time were they determined upon?
Third. Were the changes made In accordance
with the established rules of the board OF school
trustees, and with the laws governing the public
schools?
Fourth Were such changes advisable, and what
was the pecuniary cost OF them, and upon whom
Fifth Was the irregularity of the changes merely
technical, or was such irregular1ty reprehenstble
and preJudicial to the interests Of the public
The examination he would make, Commissioner
West said, would be without the formality Of an
oath, not that the Commissioners had not the
power to exact the oath, but in this case did not
deem 1t necessary, as it was supposed every one ex
amined would tell the truth.
SUPERINTENDENT WILSON EXAMINED.
MI. j. Ormond Wilson, superintendent OF the
white schools Of the District, first questioned
He stated that the studies In the elementary
schools embraced language. mathematics, history,
geography, penmanship, vocal music and drawing.
In mathematics, geography and history no
changes whatever have been made In the study
OF language the board Of school trustees had
adopted the Franklin series OF readers, embraced
In seven volumes Two of these volumes have
been abandoned, the 4th and 5th, and revised edi-
tions substituted for them. Mr.. Wilson described
also how changes had been made in the Walter
Smiths series OF drawing books by gradual
advance, so the grades having the first book this
year have the second the next, &c. The same
change, he said, had been made this year in the
Mason's music reader, SO as to introduce the
higher reader. In the high school three history
primers had been introduced in place OF SwintOn'S
outline. Mr.. Wilson when asked by whom and
wv Me sSSr suGn me.e laa%S ieau Rsn
Purvis, j. b. Brooks and B. II. Warner, members
Of the committee on teachers OF the public schools
LII
one from Mr.. Wilson 1t stated that the commit
tee did not deem it necessary TO avail themselves
OF the permission OF the Commissioners, offered
through Mr.. Wilson, OF being present at the inveS-
tlgatiOn. Neither that committee nor the board OF
trustees had received any Information relative to
the subject The committee and board had acted
in this matter of changing the text books, and
were alone responsible
A CONTRADICTION OF COMMISSIONERS WEST.
MI. West stated that this was contradiction OF
his assertion that he had sought Information from
the board He then referred to letter sent to Mr.
Warner, asking for report concerning these mat
terS.
SIN my opinion, said Mr.. Wilson in reply to a
question, "the changes were advisable, and they
have not increased tie cost OF education in the Dis
trfct OF Columbia"
"Has not Increased the cost Of books?" inquired
Mr.. West.
"No, sr,n said Mr.. Wilson. "You must look
ahead in this matter and not consider the present
moment only"
AS to the readers, Mr.. Wilson said he had advised
the committee that 1t was very important to have
these Changes made.
THE POINT OF TINE.
Upon being asked as TO the time when he knew
this change was contemplated, Mr.. Wilson said 1t
was matter of notOriety that the publishers had
been engaged upon the revision for two years. On
the 10th OF August he had written to Mr. Rheem
to notify the bOokdeaerS not to supply themselves
with the old readers He had Information from the
publishers that the books would be ready and he
thought 1t best to give this notice. While he had
known for two years that this revision OF the
| readers was going OF, the publishers In August
MN o
them to send copies to MIR. Warner, president OF
the school board He did not apprise Mr.. Rheem OF
this fact as 1t was matter he had nothing to do
with, but wrote to him to ADVISE bookdealers not
to purchase the old readers
Mr. West called attention to the law prescribing
that no change In text books should be made
except by two-thirds vote OF the board
SECRETARY RHEEM EXAMINED.
Mr. Rheem. secretary OF the board of trustees
was next examined He produced the records OF
The committee on teachers showing that the
change In the readers had been authorized by the
committee september Sth, and the change OF his
tory text books In the High school September 27th.
MI; Rnesm s was ASKED concerning statement IN IN
tRheem) had notified him OF the change in readers
In August. Mr.. Rheem said he had not given Mr..
PurSell definite information at that time, but had
advised him merely OF what was being considered.
Mr.. West asked questions as to the number OF
scholars in the fourth or tlfth grades. and Mr. Will
son said that 5000 was fair estimate.
Mr.. Wilson stated that a table he had prepared
showed that the cost OF the text books required by
$l3.29, which was less than it was In 1880.
Mr. BALLANTYNE EXAMINED.
Mr.. VIM. Ballantyne, statloner, was next exam
ined- He said the increased cost OF Fourth readers
was cents, which was compensated by reduc-
ton OF cents In the cost Of the Fifth readers He
explained, WIN CNe aSSlSJdnco Oh MI. ROBERT j.
Boyd, his bookkeeper, the method followed in
exchanging Old readers for the new; IS cents be-
ing allowed for the old Fourth and IS for the Old
Filth readers. Over One-haf and perhaps three
fourths OF the new books sold were exchanged In
this way.
MESSRS. PuRSELL AND sHILLINGTON DON'T AGREE
WITH Mr.. BALLANTYNB.
MI. c. c. Pursen, who was present, stated that In
his experience about one-half OF the books sold
were sold in exchange in this manner.
Mr. Joseph Shillington, who was present. was
appealed TO, and said that In his experience not
one tenth were sold by exchange. There were
many more brought to him for exchange, but they
were In such bad condition that the publishers
would not take them of his hands
MI. Ballantyne stated, in response to direct
question, that he had no knowledge OF the change
In readers, except a knowledge which others had
that the change would probably be made. He had
been aware tnat this new edition was in prepara-
q copy OF the book. He made his order for the
publishers early in July subject to the change, in
case It was made He did not know OF the change In
the high school books until it was adopted and had
"SwintOn'S Outlines" used last year. Mr.. Ballan-
tyne exhibited his invoice for the new histories
showing that he had ordered the books October
Principal Paul, OF the high school, who was pres
entire cost of the new histories was less than the
cost Of the books abandoned.
MR. BALLANTYNK SAYS HE HAS BEEN uHJusTLY As
When MI. West finished questioning Mr.. Ballan-
tyne the latter gentleman said he had been un-
justly assailed, and that insinuations had been
made which looked as though he had reaped spe-
cial advantage through some covert arrangement
Mr.. West said that the Commissioners had made
no such charge, and could not try statements
I nave been hounded nv n detectiyen said Mr.