Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-28
THE TEXTBOOK INVESTlG ALTON.
The Commissioners Think No Further
Action 10 Necessary.
OF THR B0ARD-THE COMMISSIONERS OF OPINION
THAT THE ERRORS MADE WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER WEST AND TIE FINDINGS
OF THR BoARD-rHE COMMISSIONERS OF OPINION
THAT THE ERRORS MADE WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN.
When the District Commissioners held their usual
daily meeting at one O'Clock to-day Commissioner
west submitted bis report OF the Investigation
which he conducted yesterday into the manner In
winch the recent changes In textbooks In the pub
Tic schools were made When the doors OF the
Commissioners room were opened the following
report embracing Commissioner Vests findings
and the views OF the board. was given out to the
press:
Alleged Irregularities in recent changes OF some
OF the text books in the public schools having been
brought to the notice of the Commissioners In
several ways. and more particularly by the re-
port OF Ofcer Block, who had been directed to
inquire as to the same, the report of that ofYicer
on the subject was referred on October 9TH to the
president OF the board OF trustees, who was also a
member OF the committee on text books and
teachers at the time the changes were assumed to
have been made The reference was I'm the fol-
lowing words: Respectfully forwarded to b. II.
such report as he may think is required. AS books,
10 certain extent, come within expenditures for
supplies any changes in them involve an Increased
would be glad to know whetAer changes have
Deen made III accordance with law, and the parti-
This application was made to the president OF the
board, as 1t was presumed that he would know
what the board and his own committee had done in
Inc premises lie. however, referred the subject
for reply to the secretary OF superintendent Wilson,
and said to be secretary OF the board for an expla
done by the vote OF two-thirds OF the whole board
OF trustees The explanation OF the changes sent
TO the commissioners, vouched for merely by an
oincer subordinate in the third degree ignores
tirely the question asked by them, whether
"changeS have been made in accordance with
when and to what book dealers he the clerk to the
superintendent, communicated the intelligence
that changes had or would be made.
Further inquiry into the matter was then deemed
necessary. and the examination OF witnesses was
confded to Commissioner West. The examination
was public and the testimony taken is submitted
with the Commissioners points OF inquiry and his
conclusions thereon.
First Precisely what changes, If any, have been
made In the text books OF the public schools.
Finding. The actual changes made comprise new
editions OF the 4th and 5th Franklin Readers and
three new books on English History in lieu OF one
school
Second Who authorized such changes, and what
time were they determined upon?
Finding. The committee on teachers and text
books-which committee ordered the change on
September sth: The change however, appears to
nave oeen unoffc1ally determined upon by Superin-
tendent Wilson on August 10th, ii not earlier.
Third Were the changes made in accordance
with the established rules OF the board of school
trustees, and with the laws governing the public
schoOls7
Finding. The rule Of the school board affecting
changes IS as follows: "The committee on teachers
and textbooks shall keep themselves advised OF
the kind, cost and character OF text books, maps
charts and school apparatus In use in the public
SCHOOLS; shall examine such other textbooks,
maps, charts or apparatus may be proposed for in
PRODUCTION, and shall make report thereon annually
IN the month or June But no books shall be changed
unless by vote OF two-thirds OF the whole board,
and the books in all the schools In the several div
sions shall be uniform They shall also make
themselves familiar with the course of study pre-
Scribed for the public schools and its practical
operation, and SHALL from time to time recommend
be best"
The changes were unauthorized were made
Dy the committee on teachers and text books, with
out the knowledge OF the board on September Sth,
although the board sanctioned them September so
No report was made on the subject in June, and it
cannot be claimed with justice that the committee
on text BOOKS. &C., Is authorized to report at any
time and change books at their pleasure. The
words quoted in the above rule state the law on
the subject, and no school authority can waive or
should evade that law.
Fourth. Were such changes advisable, and what
was the pecuniary cost OF them, and upon whom
:, Finding. The cost OF the changes OF the Frank
I'm readers is estimated at from $4,000 to 1900.
falling upon the scholars OF the public schools and
upon the District OF Columbia No extra expense
appears to attend the high school changes. The
changes In the manner they We're made were un-
advisable. 1t would have been better to allow the
schools to continue the use OF old books for year.
rather than by irregularities to create discomfort
and cause complaint
technical, or was such irreguarity repfehensble
and preJudcial to the interests OF The public
schools?
Finding. The irregularity OF the change was
more tnan technical 1t was an injudclous as
sumption OF power by the committee on textbooks,
teachers. &C. contrary the rules OF the board of
trustees and in violation OF law Their action took
place officially, though Illegally some time after it
nad evidently been determined upon in the mind OF
the superintendent, whose determination was COM
municated to the trade at earlier or later date
by his secretary according to the diligence with
which the dealers applied to him for Information
The board OF trustees by its rules and the law by
It's restrictions recognize the sensit1veness with
which changes in textbooks are regarded in public
Schools and this sensitiveness pervades according
to the observation OF the Commissioners all public
school systems throughout the United States
When prescribed forms are diSregarded and safe
guards are ignored only complaint and scandal en-
sue. The intelligence and uprightness which
should Characterize the management OF the public
schools OF the District has been brought into Ques
ton, and the estimation which they should COM
mand from all good citizens has been impaired.
During that inquiry a letter to Superintendent
Wilson. from the committee on teachers and text
books, was submitted by him in answer to the in.
qufry as to ''who made the changes?" and accom-
panleS this summary. 1t is TO be regretted that
the irreguarty of the proceedings is not frankly
admitted by the committee is their responsibility
FOR its occurrence
The Commissioners in approving this report re-
cOgnlze that the management OF schools including
the change OF textbooks, is within the province OF
the trustees, and that the responsibility therefore
rests upon them Also, that upon complaint by
citizens OF iegaty or irregularty in the exercise
OF that power IL is proper for the Commissioners to
irregular change In textbooks did not originate in
an intention to violate law, and that IL is not
likely to occur again, the Commissioners deem no
further action to be necessary.
ONLY AN IMPRUDENcE.
One Of the District Commissioners said to STAR
reporter that In his view the school trustees had
committed an imprudence on a very delicate mat
ter. That was all it amounted to- He thought that
the finances OF the schools should be controlled by
the Commissioners, but to details OF educational
matters submitted to the board he did not think
the Commissioners had the time TO attend to them
properly.
MR. WARNER OPPOSED TO ABoLIsHING THR BOARD
Mr.. b. H. Warner, late president of the board OF
school trustees, when asked by a STAR reporter
this morning as. to the advisabllty Of abolisning
the school board, as suggested by the District Com
miSsioners, said 81 am opposed to aboliShing the
board OF school trustees TO the employment OF de-
tectiveS as means OF official intercourse between
the members OF said board and the District Com
mSSonerS to the Capitalization OF power, to secrecy
In tranSactng public business, to that policy which
seeks to deprive the people OF this District OF any
voice in the control OF their own affairs No one
owned me while member OF the board OF school trus-
tees and think nine of our citizens acting as trus-
tees will be quite likely the interests of
the District one Commissioner. am In favor OF
charging the board instead Of reducing it. Not
one OF our District Commissioners has ever visited
primary school In this District to my knowledge.
But am busy; good bye"
WHAT TRUSTEE SMITH SAYS.
Mr.. James H. Smith, a trustee representing the
eighth district (cOlored SchOols) said tn STA n re