Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-30
THE TEXT BOOK QUESTION.

The State Teachers Association adopted
resolutions opposing the proposed constitu-
donal amendment providing for State pub
iicaGon of school textbooks Its reasons
are set forth in fourteen paragraphs First,
Wholesale dealers now pay to publishers
Of textbooks 10000 annually Second,
The State can buy them at q like figure"
But why should She do so, when she can
print them a, chaapiy as the Eastern pub
fishers, who certainly make a large per
centase OF profit Third, " \ private pub
fishing house would require five years
lime and plant of $4,000 TO prepare
plates and matter 60 produce such books rs
are needed To which it may be replied,
4 a private publisher can afford such labor
and expense. so can the State Fourth,
" The expense to the State because of mex
pcr7encc and extravaganza due to partisan
politics would certainly be 100000. It
does not follow. The State now has the
proper facilities. The estimates Of the
state printing department. show that the
work can be easily done at far less figure
than The people pay publishers for books
annually That Jobs would result is a
possibility. but that the people are able 10
defeat and proven, them is certain, Fifth
After first expense. the annual cost 90 the
State would be $4,000, exclusive Of the
centra. bureau of publication. In this we
indnothing really worthy of reply Sup
pose The cost is $4,000 annually, and that
thereby an indirect tax Of 10000 is saved
10 the people in the purchase Of books
what them As TO a central bureau of pub
location, We have a State Superintendent
now at the head Of department fully
equipped for the necessary duties. sixth
The estimate If the State Printer is
erroneous Something more than dog
matte assertion on tins head is needed to
command any respect from voters. The
State printing department is certainly COM
potent to estimate the cost Of printing
' First Reader" for instance, the whole OF
which would not ill two columns in the
REooED-UNIoN seventh, " The preparation
or good textbooks requires skill, judg-
mcnt, experience and patience" Granted
but why may not the State by open
competition avail of the highest talent,
the skill and the best Judgment
Of iha Z airy in preparing her textbooks
What advantage have publishers over the
State in this respect? Eighth, Few text
books from old experienced houses give
general satisfaction, and it is probable that
the first attempt by the State would be
crude and unsatisfactory Possibly hut
that is nothing against the scheme The
State hiss the benefit Of the shortcomings Of
the past, and can avoid the errors But, if
granted, what Of Il? Ninth, The imper-
fiction to develop on trial will require new
editions. amended and reformed. and will
provoke political attack, legislative inquiry
and public scandal Even If admitted,
these obstacles can scarcely be greater than
those now existing Private publishers are
constantly reforming their editions, ANA
hundred or more besicgc the counties to
change textbooks, corrupt and b.ibc local
boards, influence by divers means the Legs
IdAults. dtik4 iiaeEtttsfe w A'i' li'NlA AD4lt-
pctidve quarrcls into the politics OF the
counties and the State. The release Of the
people from the miserable contract system
with textbook publishers will compensate
for all possible early imperfecions in the
State textbooks Tenth, " 1t is dangerous
for California to stake so much money ON
SO doubtful result The experiment is The /
more dangerous, because it is to be made I
by constitutional amendment, requiring |
years for repeal" Tie stake of the
State is not large, by no means equal to |
that the people are forced to put up and
lose to the publishers, every four years
Moreover, the State is to sell the books at
cost, not give them away. The Teachers
Association exposes its ignorance of the