The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-01

hundreds of school books published in the coun-
try. They may select on any principle that
should govern men having public interests In
charge. Price quality, adaptation to the
schools may all have due control; but il is not
conceivable that the four thousand school boards,
elected by the people from their own number,
shall not have the interests of their own neigh
oors, friends and children at heart more nearly
than the interests of any publishing house.
The lnslnuations sometimes made that boards
or education, superintendent and teachers are
actuated by improper, mercenary motives in
selecting these books in preference to others Is
an insult TO them and TO the people who elect
them to important trusts. These ISLANDERS al
ways emanato from persons who would seek by
Ialsehood and libel to obtain some advantage
Which they fail TO secure by honorable, open
competition. Boards Of education are usually
composed of the best men in the country-men
OF honorable standing among their fellow-citi-
zenS, elected for their knowledge of educational
affairs and their fitness for the duties of the Of
flee. The superintendents and principals of
schools are men of high standing for their integ
rlty and honesty, aud such imputations upon
their character deserve the reprobation OF all
honest men.
To transact our business we employ agents
so do the grocers, the hardware merchants and
all extensive business houses of the world. We
believe those agents to be honorable intellige mt
gentlemen. We intend to employ others.
1t Is the duty OF our agents to keep US thor
oughly informed OF the progress of the schools
what new methods of instruction are being de-
veloped. what new processes are on trial, what
the tendencies of the schools are. We must
know precisely the present condition and the
probable tendencies of educational movement IS
in order to adapt our books properly to the
needs of the schools successful school-book
must occupy position in the direct line of ad
vance. The schools will not readily adapt them-
selves to book that is not in accord with the
best thought of the best teachers.
1t is also the duty of agents to call the
attention of school officers and teachers to the
merits and low prices OK our publications. and to
recommend their adoption and use.
We also send out sample copies of our books
for examination, with a view to Introduction,
and we advertise our books in the professional
periodicals and by circulars, with the intent to
secure their introduction.
The question of too frequent changes of school
books is one that is entirely within the control
OF the people In nearly every State the law
provides that book, when once adopted. shall
remain unchanged for term of years. tits our
experience that books, if worthy of use, do re-
main much longer than any legal enactment re-
1uires. In the spring of 1874 we sent out blanks
to the clerks of all the school boards of Ohio,
asking for information on that point. We re-
ceived answers from two thousand towns and
townships, showing
/. That it is not true that books are frequent
~ changed; hundreds of these reports show that
the same books have been in use from ten to 6f-
teen years
II. That the law forbidding changes oftener
than once in term Of FIVE years is generally 90
served.
III. That boards of education and teachers
prefer the books they have selected and adopted.
~. That there is as much uniformity In
books as is practicable or desirable.
1t is continually charged upon the authors and
publishers of schooi-books that they make fire.
quent changes in the texts for the purpose of
compelling pupils to buy the new editions and
throw away the old-thus securing increased
sales of the books.
If the assertions were true. the results would
be the opposite of the end desired Those school
books which have oftenest been revised. have
for that very reason soon lost their popularity;
| and wise publishers hare been taught by such
| examples TO make their books as perfect as pos
slble at first, that changes will not be neces-
sary for many years
We attribute the great popularity and long
continued sale of our own publications largely
| to two facts: a. Practical and experienced
| teachers, men Of accuracy and sound methods,
| were selected to write the books, that they
| should exactly meet the requirements Of our
| public schools; and ~ no changes have been
| made in the texts, except In the correction of
| errors in Typography and statement or to make
| them accord with the progress of science and
| discovery. Such changes as these are ALSO
lutely necessary, and no sane man can object to
item.
| McGuffey's readers and Rays arithmetics re-
| manned unchanged for twenty years, and many
satisfactorily all that time Quite recently both
series have been thoroughly revised; but this
was demanded by the best educators all over the
land, as is shown conclusively by the marked
favor with which the new and beautiful editions
| have been received The former editions, how
ever, are kept in print are still largely used and
| will be published as long there is demand
| for them. Such is the case whenever it is found
necessary to make radical revision of any book
on our list
We have attempted to place before the public
our manner of doing business. We have to the
best of our ability, placed our publications in as
many schools of the country as we could. We
have, In the face of the most persistent competi-
ton, established publishing business second to
none in the world. 1t has been our ambition to
make the best books at the cheapest prices, and
we ask from the public their continued support
so long as the merit of the Eclectic Educational
Series remains world wide and unchaleuged,
and so long as no cheaper texts are obtainable
Very respectfully,
VAN ANTWERP, BRAGG & Co,