Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-11
UNIFORM rExrpooKs.



Legislature.
ARriSoroN, TEX Dec. s, lss0
To the Editor Of the Gazette.
OF late notice that the press of Texas.
and especially the dallios, are urging the
necessity for an uniform series OF text
books in Texas. l think tho arguments
Just aud reasonable, and, as one interest.
ed In educational work, ask Tne GAzErrr
to indulge me a short space, chat / may
present my views on tue subject. la the
first place, during the last few years the
frequent changing Of textbooks has cost
the people OF Texas not ONLY many thou
sands, but many millions OF dollars. our
Democratic manag ment OF public schools
renders frequent changing OF superln.
iendents and principals necessary part
OF It's policy, and will so long as the
present system is 10 operation.
The outgoing superintendeuts leave be.
hind them schools well supplied with
books good or bad, The incoming prln.
cipals bring into the schools their pecu.
liar preferences CONCERNING books found
In the hands Of pupils. Tho new man.
agoment begins war on tho "demerltsn OF
the old books, styling their action 'spro.
gressiye educationn introductory and
exchange rates are sought OF publishers,
which are williogly offered with all neces-
sary Inducements, Superintendents and
agents begin trying to convince
sceool boards that the old bcaks are i'm.
practicable, and that those sought TO be
introduced ae "ptogresslye.r Thus
through direct adoption by school
officers or by their silent as
sent the Texas child IL made TO pull out
Of his purse enough money TO pay the
yearly taxes OF an average citizen, that
the ideas OF this progressive system may
be satisfied. There are probably but few
who will contend that the evils OF text.
book changing are not less burdensomo
than those OF tariff robbery and other
"frauds Of taXatlonn And, hence, we
consider that the dark side OF the ques-
ton needs but limited discussion. The
central question Is, can Texas strike this
! = ilent taxation from her system of public
economies And II SO, how2 Many
Eastern, Middle and Western states,
viewing as robbery this system OF FREE
quent changing, have struck II down, and
are now well pleased with the one.sorles
| plan which operates as great saving
| OF the peoples money, Texas should do
! likewise. and while she may cut short the
|
own borders 20, and render less golden
their broad harvest fields, yet the public
will declare the wisdom OF that admins
tratlon which will save an annual expend-
iture OF entirely too much money. How
should Texas proceed to correut this eyil9
And while my Views may not be wholly
correct, let them go for what they are
worth. The next legislature should enact
that uniform series be adopted, and to
carry out such enactment should empower
the state school board, asa committee, to
examine the books OF various publishers
and make such adoption as TO the board
may seem best, and on the most
reasonable terms possible, or, II
deemed more polite, let the com
| mittee for this purpose be formed OF other
than the state school board. The adop-
tion, of course, would be subiec, TO re-
peal or amendment, and while / prefer
the former plan, don't think either
would be objectionable
II may be claimed that publishers, un-
der the garb OF combinations aud syndi-
Gates, would Join actiou,to thwart prac-
teal edoptlon. We assume thatthe same
rules OF conduct apply to publishers as
apply to individuals, No sane individual
will carelessly allow TO slip by an invest
ment seasoned with profit.
And so would publishers willingly confer
with an empowered committee, and offer
terms most liberal and easy. 1t may be
urged that the committee might
not be conyersant with the
needs of public instruction, and would be
Incompetent TO mako wise selection.
Where there are several agents there
would certainly be some wisdom, and as
the state superintendent would be mem
Der OF the first committee above men
tened, the inference Is suggested that
the states interested would receive ut
least reasonable care ! am free TO
confess that |, with all others OF my pro-
fesslon, am no less free from prejudice
than men Of other callings. II possible,
we are more the creatures OF peculiar
ideas than men of any other profession
Hence, Just SO long as we are given the
right TO change textbooks, Just that
long will old books pass out
OF and new ones come into
the schools. do not think It presump.
tlous TO assert that the most liberal
minded OF my profession are ready TO lay
aside all personalities In this matter and
will gladly accept legislation which will
free us from the annoyance OF annual
changing, and as the same time Will save
the people Of Texas an enormous yearly
expense. The great dalles, and especially
THK GAZETTE, have put life into a move
ment for which they should receive the
plaudits OF an overtaxed public, and we
trust that the movement will gain
strength until Texas legislators shall
soon regard the matter as not only pos
sible, but an absolute Issue.
Yours truly, BES NJ. TERRELI.,
Superintendent schools, Arlington, Tex.
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