Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-30
TEE SCHOOL BOOK SYSTEM AND ITS
ENEMIES.

The people of this State, by vote upon
a constitutional amendment, emphatically
expressed their opinion that it is wise
policy for the State to print its own text
books for use in the common schools.
That decision was arrived at coolly and
after some years of cor5idore,tior, and pub
lie discussion of the question. 1t was ar
rived at in the face of pronounced oppo-
sition to the scheme by about all the text
book publishers. 1t was resolved upon in
the teeth of hot and long-winded protest
by convention of teachers in the State,
but which body did not embrace all the
educators-fort unately, some of the best
minds Of that class were, as they now re-
main, sincere friends of the new plan.
When the people thus decided, the Legis-
lature recognized its duty to be to give
effect to that expression of will ON the part
of the sovereign power, and proceeded to
pass the necessary laws to that end.
1t became the bounden duty of every
official of the State to subordinate his pri-
vate and personal views to that will, and
do all that his duty in office required of
him to carry into full and economic effect
9he scheme upon which the people had
resolved. Any official who cannot con-
scientiously do this, owes it to himself and
to the people to resign and give place 10
son,a at ber opJ moro ,haJ;aot earx-;to- &c
the public will, or at least to decline to
act in opposition to it. The carrying out
of the details of the book scheme is COM
mitted to the State Board of Education
That body embraces in its membership
Professor Allen, of the State Normal
School at San jose Prior to the adoption
of the constitutional amendment Professor
Allen was recognized as an open opponent
of the proposed system. He was himself
school-book author, aud he had
come before the public as such,
through the medium of private publish
ing houses. 1t did not follow of
necessity that he was therefore incapaci-
tated to honestly serve the State in fur
therance of its new scheme-the old rela-
ton he sustained to the question did not
of necessity impeach his capacity and hon
esty of purpose in forwarding that schemt
But from the time that the Board took UP
the question, Professor Allen has not con-
cealed his want of faith in il, and has not,
as we Judge his acts and expressions, since
then aided to forward the scheme.
Whether his former or present relation to
textbooks and publishers has anything to
do with his attitude, becomes therefore a
legitimate topic for consideration. But we
do not propose to impugn his motives.
We are perfectly willing to accord to him
sincerity in his views, but we do most en-
phatically question the propriety of his
manifesting them while member of the
Board. If Professor Allen cannot con-
scientiously and earnestly labor to give
the new plan a thorough and undelayed
trial, he owes it to himself and to the peo-
pie who salary him to resign. He will
scarcely venture to question or dispute the
charge that he is unfriendly to the new
plan. If he were driven to answer we be-
lieve he would manifest his honesty by
admitting that he looks upon it as ehimer.
zeal, as uneconomical and bad policy. and
that he has not labored to give it full
and impartial trial. Holding such views
it is improper for MIN to sit upon the
Board. We do not believe that we mis-.
Judge Professor Allen when we say thai
from the beginning his influence upor
this matter in the Board has been adverse
to the system, and that his acts and ex
pressions have testified to the fact. We
do not belieyethat the other members o
the Board look upon him as cordially help
ing them in work they are honestly
striving TO carry cut to It's best possible