Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-03
FREE ScHOoL-BOOKs.
To The Editor Qfne Dispatch !.

In the interest Of the taxpayers
ask for space in your columns to dis
cuss the proposition to distribute books
to the pupils Of our free schools at the
expense Of the State. II is fact not
to be denied that all money in the
State treasury is put there by levying
taxes on the people, and any PROPOSE
ton that looks to increased expendi.
lures by the State involves an increase
of taxation. We have been claiming
that we were too poor to pay our State
debt at its original par value, and yet it
appears our legislators are seriously
considering proposition that will be in
the end more costly than the payment
of the debt. The Democratic party in
its platform, as a matter Of policy ! pre-
sumo, inserted aplank pledging theparty
to this measure, and 1t seems thst our
senator's and delegates, or at least a
part of them, feel under obligations to
carry out this measure. | for on. was
opposed to this plank, and feel that q
bad promise is better kept in the breach
than in the observance and, besides,
no effort had been, or has been, made to
arrive at the approximate cost to the
State treasury. have been informed
that the Committee on Schools and Col
leges have entered into correspondence
with the publishers Of school-books to
find out how many they sell to Viz
ginia dealers, but this effort will afford
but little light on this subject, for the
reason that majority Of our merchants
who deal in school.books purchase them
from jobbers, and in many cases these
jobbers do business outside the State
In an effort to throw some little
light on this subject, presen:
the following plan Of approximating the
cost, and in SO doing will take it for
granted that an entire outfit Of new
books will have to be supplied the first
year that the plan goes into operation ::
The number Of pupils enrolled in the
public schools in the school-year end
ing July 81, 1885, was in round num-
bers 100000, an increase of nearly
$4,000 over the enrolment Of 1884.
These pupils have the right to enter the
schools at five years, and | shall as
sumo that they leave the schools at the
average age of fifteen years. This will
give the average school-life of the child
as ten years, which, it seems to me, is
rather below than above the true ave-
rage. For convenience Of calculation |
shall divide these pupils into five
classes of two years. attendance in
each class, and try to show what
it will cost to furnish them with books
the first year. As the number enrolled
in 1885 was largely in excess of those
enrolled in 1884, take it that it will
be fair to assume that there will be a
similar increase this year, so that the
enrolment for the year ending 3lst Of
July, 1886, will in round numbers be
about 318,000.
The first class, embracing those in
their first and second years. will num-
Der ZOO pupils, who will need one
speller at 20 cents and one first reader
at 20 cents, which will cost s25, 440.
The second class, containing those in
their third and fourth years, will num-
Der G3,600 pupils, each Of whom will
require one third reader at AZ cents
primary geography, 60 cents primary
arithmetic, 20 cents two Spencerian
"a cents, and one slate, 10
cents, or an aggregate to each pupil of
sl.Gl, making the total cost Of books
for this class $l02, 1876.
The third class, embracing those in
their fifth and sixth years, will number
G3.6O0. each of whom will require one
fourth reader. Sc cents; one elemental
ry grammar, Il cents one manual Of
geography, SLAP; one elementary
81 cents one mental arith-
metic, 81 cents one primary diction-
airy, SO cents; two Spencerian copy
books, "a cents; and one slate, 10
cents, or cost for each pupil Of 1894,
making the cost Of books for this class
the sum Of s250,5S4.
The fourth class, embracing those in
their seventh and eighth school-years,
$4,000, will each require
one fifth reader, 50 cents /; one gram
mar, 70 cents; one intermediate arith-
metic, accents; one mental arithmetic,
81 cents one dictionary, SO cents
one manual Of geography, sl.42;
.wo Spencerian copy-boOks, "a cents
and one slate, 10 cents, or an
of $3.50 for each pupil,
lggregating 1886, 200. The fifth class,
G3,6OO pupils in their ninth
md tenth schoolye-ars, will require
each One fifth reader, so cents; one
20 cents; one physical geog-
Apply, sl.79; one practical arithmetic,
20 cents one dictionary, SO cents ; one
history of the United States, Sill;
me history of Virginia, 81 A; two Spen-
,erian copy-books, "a cents; and one
late, 10 cents, or an expenditure OF
s6.97 for each member of this class,
costing in the aggregate CAB, 292.
In the above calculations | have taken
he books required by law to be used
II our free schools, and put the prices
1t those now actually charged by deal
rs for these books when sold to pupils.
Let us recapitulate /:
-. 500 pupils at 40c. each .............s 25.44o