The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-10-17
rnz scmesI aoeK QUESTION.


Under our laws, Il becomes the duty
II the State Superintendent Of Public
instruction, every four years, TO send
out TO tho County School Superiatea-
aents Of the several ccunties of the
State, printed circulars containing III
list of the studies required to be taught
In the schools, together with the whole
sale price Of all books Ia said list. II
then becomes the duty Of tho County
Snperinsendents Of the several counties,
after due consideration, TO write oppo-
site each study the textbooks or seriea
Of textbooks preferred. Those text
books or series of textbooks receiving
q majority Of tho votes Of the county
superintendent shall be the authorized
Textbook or series Of textbooks In the
public schools Of this state for four
years.
Any school district refusing TO intro.
duoe the school books thus adopted
shall forfeit It's proportion of the school
fund for each year thereafter until IL
complies with this requirement. The
textbooks now in use ia tie public
schools OF this state were adopted and
went into use about four years ago, and,
as We are informed, the state saperin-
tendent will soon send out printed cir
culars to the county superintendenAl
calling upon them to vote again upon
this subject, and thus determine wheth-
er the books now in use shall remain
the eatabliahed textbooks of the state
or whether change in part or all sAal
be made. The matter Of the merits ol
demerits Of the books now in use W
suppose has been discussed by th'
teachers Of the state, and we suppos'
county superintendenis are eonversan
with the opinions Of teachers upon th'I
subject. We arc not thoroughly advis
cd as to what the prevailing opinion
OF teachers are upon this sabj cot, and
If We were, we should not DO willing 4
accept that opinion as en- sbsolate guild
by which superintendauts should b
governed in determining whether I
change Ihonld be made or not. Will
We are Tree to admit that teachers, as
class, are the best judges Of the meri
and worth of textbook, yet there AZ
ether consideration which should hay'
their weight upon the minds Of cunt,
supsrintendents in voting for chang
in any or all the textbooks now II
use. The expense Of supplying all th'
children who now attend the publil
schools Of this state with = supply o
new books would be grievoas burder
to bear just at this time when none,
is so scarce, and all kinds Of msrketakl,
commodities ars - las. l'bis cUnsid
Grafton should nss be overlooked b,
superintendents when they come Il
vote upon the subject. While We hav'
no doubt whatever Of the wisdom Of th'
policy Of tho legislature Ia establishing
q uniform seriss Of textbooks for us'
in all the public schools Of this state
yet there Is no Disgusting the patsn
fact that there are many who do donb
it. There is mitch prejudice agains
uniformit,' among untbinking peopl'
who become imbued with the idea tha
il affords monopoly Of the book trade
to those who publish the books adoptet
ss the series of books u be used, aus
this is true, though publishers Of text
books have monopoly 4 n. making
and sale OF their .sxt-yeoks, st-
they are adopted a. par u one uni
form series o. not, as they are copy
righted. Bu' to m &c changes so ofteI
infames tho prejudices above spoker
of,and tends to cripple the usefulness o
our public schools. We are incline,
to think no general change is required
We hope teachers and people will thinI
of this matter and lay such facts befor
county superintendents as well guild,
them Alright in the premises.