Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-21
PUBLIC SCHOOL EST.DOOES.
Action Of the Board of Education on
the Subject Of Textbooks for the
Public Schools.

IUpllU oUnUUl lLAI-DUUhot
Action Of the Board of Education on
the Subject of Text books for the
Public Schools.
At "a meeting Of the Board OF
Education, held May 18Th, in the
Office of the State Superintendent
of Public Instruction, for the pur-
pose of considering the matter OF
textbooks, to be used in the public
schools, the following preamble and
resolutions were adopted
Whereas. The Constitution of
Virginia article s, section g. con
tains the following provision, VIZ. /;
The Board Of Education shdU pro-
ride for uniformity of text books.
And School Laws Section 60,
page Cos, Code of 1S73)the follow
ing, viz Uniformity Of tertboOks
shdU be prOrided for on some
gradual system by the Board Of Edu-
cation; and whereas these sections
of the constitution and laws have
been construed by high authority
to require absolute uniformity of
text. books in the entire State, and
not in individual cities, counties, or
districts and whereas the people
of Virginia, through their repIesen-
tatives in the House Of Delegates,
ana by repeated expression of Opin-
ion, have indicated preference for
a single series of text books and
whereas frequent change of text
books are to be deprecated as being
unnecessary, detrimental to school
system, and involving an expense
to patrons, which, to many of them
in the present depressed and unset
tied demolition of orr finances,
proves heavy tax and whefeas
change of text books should
mainly, if not exclusively, be cor
sidered with reference to the GER
tainty of securing better books, or
books of equal merit at lower rates
than those already in use ; and
whereas, by the adoption ola single
series of text books, the cost there
of as sold by retail to patrons in
the counties can be materially re-
duced therefore.
ReSOlrcd /. That a single series
of textbooks be adopted for use IN
the public schools of the State for
the ensuing four years, beginning
August LIST, 1856, viz. McGu1ey's
speller, McGuffey's readers, Vena-
ble's arithmetics, Harvey's gram
mars, Maury's biographies, Web
ster's dictionaries, MagilPs History
of Virginia, Holmes New History
of the United States, the Graphic
cOpy-books, Cooks Virginia (tor
supplementary reading.)
.. That, while no requirement is
hereby made that cities or counties
shall change the textbooks pre-
viously adopted and in use, all
textbooks which shall be adopted
at any time within the ensuing four
years in place of those hitherto or
now in use, shall be taken from the
list above prescribed. This pro.
vision for gradual changes of text.
books through period OF four
years, according as such changes
may be deemed expedient, will it
is believed, reduce to a minimum
the inconvenience to the schools
and the expense to the people.
3. That the action Of the Board of
Education in adopting the single
series of textbooks above specified
shall not be final and in full effect
until the publishing houses having
books in the series, file with the
Board of Education contracts duly
executed, obllgating themselves to
provide a supply of books In each
county in which they are used
sufficient for the wants of the
schools thereof at a cost to the
pupils not to exceed the present
wholesale prices named in the price
list presented to this Board.
The policy OF the Board of Edu'
cation as indicated by the above
resolutions does not enforce
changes in the books used in the
public schools. The matter is left
to the choice of the county and city
schools boards. They can con.
tinue any or all the books now in
use or can adopt in place thereof
any or all of the books prescribed.
The contracts proposed to be made
with publishing houses will secure
a reduction in prices and save cost
to the people. 1t will be remember.
cd that at the recent session of the
General Assembly a bill requiring
the Board Of Education to pre-
scribe a one-book list received
majority Of votes in the House OF
Delegates. The policy adopted by
the board of allowing changes TO
be gradually made during the next
four years will test the sense of the
people on this point. 1t is worthy
of note that the authors of the
books are mostly Nirginians.