Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-21


Textbook Controversy.
MT. b. III. Warner, who is the president of the
school board pending the action Of the Commits
sioners upon his resignation which he handed in
some days ago, as stated In THE STAR at the time,
said to STAR reporter In reference to the charges
made concerning the change Of text books: "Tnere
In the text books amounted to very little and was
simply the substitution OF one edition Of book,
better one, for another. The action OF the text
DOCK committee regarding the change was prODa-
bly, stretching the rule little, but the board up
krovsa snis aetlon and at an events there was no
on the part OF any one. The malicious and un-
called for reference TO unfair or improper conduct
on the part OF Ar. Wilson or Mr. Bailantyhe Is the
result OF very unwSe action the part at least OF
one OF our District officials Mr. Ballantyne stands
TOO high IN this community TO suffer by such at
tackS. have submitted his bills TO other dealers
VINO nave told me that they would not furnish
supplies at such rates. So far as the District is
of contract" :
at is stated that Mr.. Ballautyne is favored
above other dealers?" interrupted The STAR man
I'm an interview. which was published In THE
STAR about the middle OF August, think" replied
Mr.. warner. II mentioned the contemplated change
Id the edition OF the school books and this, even If
they had no other means OF information gave any
dealer who might desire to do so ample OppOrtuni-
" 70 supply themselves. think that Mr.. Wilson
Is the hardest worked and the poorest paid official
connected with the District government. He has
mad 10 make great many enemies In his efforts to
Duild up the schools. This course involved the
throwing out OF old material and the substitution
OF better In the personnel OF the teachers and In the
recommendation for school furniture, supplies, &C"
1.-The Commissioners" continued Mr. Warner
"Seem to have given Detective Block a rowing com
mission to inquire about every rumor that came TO
them In regard to the schools. The ladies and gen.
tleinen employed In the school service are gener-
any speaking, persons OF high attainmentS, and
Dear irreprOachable characters and IL seems to me
that District officials who have charge OF the al
InhlStratlon or our government ought 10 be very
careful before they talk to reporters on subjects
which reflect In any way upon school system
much gooI.n
THE VIEWS OF Mr. ". W. CURTIS.
Mr.. ". W. Curtis, one OF the members of the
school board, said TO a STAR reporter:
IL was absent from the city when this investiga-
ton began, but on my return was informed that
detective had been around to the school build
ln9S aud had also come TO see me- While had no
ledge that such an Investigation was being
made nor knowledge of the truth OF the charge
made, was glad that IT had been begun think that
We cannot have too many wholesome checks upon
the management OF our school affairs and think
that unier the present arrangement there is too
much power in the hands Of one man, the Superin-
teu1enL MIR. Wilson has the entire control and
all information about tue schools that reaches the
board is uttered through him. There ought to be
some management by which the supervising prin-
cipais could be attached to the board as sort OF
an advisory council, and then the members could
OBTAIN information about the needs Of the schools
directly from them, and the danger of things get.
ting into rut would largely be 0bviated"
.hv s WILSON ~ n1Swever continued Mr. Curtis,
der bis control. and has largely been able to con.
troll the board 1t has always been the case for
years. that when a member Of the board Opposed
Mr.. Wilson he was gotten rid OF In some way-
some times by recognizing the board In this way
we lost such men as Mr.. G. NJ Matthews, Mr. W. C.
Dooge. MI Edward Temple and Mr.. Thomas SOmer.
Vile. Gen. Blrney, who Is an experienced educ..
Tor. and man OF Ideas, was forced Oh the board
improvement in the system OF education retarded
but the actual cost OF running the schools Is
Tor instance lew years ago. there was only one
class of buildings thought proper for school pur-
poses and 1t was only after a prolonged STRUGGLE
that cheaper and different style OF buiIdInv Ike
Inc one on Massachusetts avenue, was adopted
Expensive plans meant large fees to architects
ana there was only one architect that was regarded
as competent The same idea prevails In regard to
duced except that which Is made In Boston. and so
might go On to enumerate other Instances where
public schools" Wv
"How about this change in the textbooks which
has been mentioned?' asked the reporter
ne eomlniltee SAID that as 1t was change In edi-
lions merely, not in books the action OF the board
was not required But regard that as a dfstinc.
tion without a difference. think that to ali in
About the charges OF corruption have NOTHING In
say, because l know nothing personally As
nave said before, have neither the time nor the
Inclination TO go into the fight myself, but the dis
cussion Of school affairs by the public win prove
beneficial j am OF the opinion that the board
Should be enlarged TO two members from each dis
tricL"
THE CHANGE MADE IN TEXT BOOKS
The change in the Franklin readers which has
caused so much controversy appears by the school
BOARD records TO have been authorized by the com.
mittee on teachers at meeting held September
2Sth ~ that meeting the use OF the improved
editions OF the readers was sanctioned This ac-
ton was reported TO the full board at meeting
neld september 30 AT meeting OF the high
school committee september 9th q recommends
lion MADE Dy NesSrs- Paul and Gould. OF the High
school, as TO certain text books was approved and
books in place OF "Swinton's Outline The new
books, 1t was said were necessary to the system OF
teaching history introduced by Mr.. Gould
NOT CONSIDERED A CHANGE OF BOOKS
MI. A. p. Clark, a member OF the school board.
said to STAR reporter in regard to the change In
the text books, that change OF an edition ia nor
considered a change OF books; that heretofore
similar change was made from Davies Arithmetic
70 Davies and Pecks ARITHMETIC, which is really a
revised edition OF Dawes, by the committee on
teachers and text books, and their action was s,h
sequently ratified by the board.
EXPERIENCE OF MIR. PARKER, THE sTATroNER
Mt. j. c. Parker, the stationer, when asked In
regard TO the matter, said:
~ don't care to appear in any public controversy
on this question, but will tell you my experience
this year. obtained from Mr. Rheem inrOrmatiOn
IN regard 10 the change In the text books with the
exception OF the music readers When received
the printed list on Saturday / found thar in the
seventh grade the Independent Music Reader was
substituted lor the Intermediate Music Reader
brought them back and said that it was the Carr
bridge edition that they had to have This was the
hrst information that had received ana I WAS
much embarrassed in the transaction OF NV baisi
ness In consequence. As to the books In the High
scnOoi. 1 could get no Information whatever
although 1 sent To Mr.. Wilson repeatedly From
my experience this year, we'll as In the past. it
seems 10 me that the tendency IS to throw the
trade In school books in one direction
WHAT PROF. SPENCER SAYS
To STAR reporter Prof. Henry c. Spencer said to-
day:It Is public as well personal duty to STATE
that Superintendent Wilson has never had one
dollar OF financial interest in any Spenceran pnh
LEGATION or manufacture whatsoever He has for
many years agreed with his cOadjutors, the Wash
lngton public schools and the educational COM
munlty at large, that the SpeDcerian publications
are adapted to the wants OF the schools and has
therefore. encouraged their use In Washington and
elsewhere.
The "Spencerian Sampler" referred to by ssa
prominent bookseller on the avenue Is a hand.
some book In which the pupils OF the public schools
prepare samples OF their school work In peDmau-
snip, geography, letter writing, arithmetic &c
Al the end OF the year the samplers" form part
OF the annual school exhibitions which have given
such general satisfaction TO the thousands Of our
citizens VINO have attended them. This book was
prepared for publication by the Spencer Brothers
The design and execution OF the matter on its
covers, both ornamental and useful, amounted to
considerable outlay. ana though the matter Is
protected by copyright entry, the spencer Bros
nave never received any royalty or profit thereon
and the publishers state that on account OF the
high grade OF stock used In the Manufacture and
the low price at which the books have been sold In
Washington there has been little or no profit IN
them On The sampler The prominent bookseller
on tne avenue who said the Sampler could he made