Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-14
EDUCATIONAL.
ACTION OF THE STATE BOARD As 10
PUBLIC.sCHooL BOOKS.
Gradual Introduction Of single Series
Adopted in the Interest Of Economy
and Uniformity.

A meeting Of the State Board OF Ed
ucatiop, which is composed Of the Gov
erpor, Superintendent Of Public In
sruction, and Attorney-Genersl, was
held in the Governors Office at 10 A.
NJ. yesterday. Tho following preamble
and resolutions were adopted:
where's the Constitution OF virginia (Ar-
tjcle Will. section O. contains the following
provision-viz. The Board OF Eiucatioa
shall provide for uniformity OF text -books--
and school laws section 62. page tso Cone
OF 1879 the following.viz., uniformly
OF text. books ssss shall be provided for
on some gradual system BY the Board OF
Education-and whereas these sections
Of the Constitution and laws have been
construed by high authority to require ao-
solute uniformity OF textbooks Ia the en-
the state, ana not In individual cities
counties. or districts. and whereas the peo-
pie OF Virginia. through their representa-
lives In the Houte OF Delegates. and by re-
pealed expression OF opinion have indlcs-
books: and whereas frequent changes OF
text books are &c be deprecated. as being
unnecessary. detrimental TO the school sys~
tenn. and involving an espense 10 pa'fons'
pressed and unsettled condition OF our
inapcss proves heavy tax: aud whereasa q
cbanEe OF textbooks should mainly, III not
= exclusively. be considered with reference
TO the certainty OF securing better books.
or books OF equal merit at lower rates. than
those already IL use and whereas by the
adoption OF single series OF text-booRs
the cost thereof as sold by retail to patrons
in the counties can be materially reduced
therefore
Res0ired. I. That a single series OF text
books be adopted for use in the public
schools OF the state for the ensuing four
years. beginning August LIST, is6o-yiz.:
McGufrey's Speller,
Mc6ufiey's Readers.
Nepable's Arlthmetics, ~
Barveys Grammars,
Maury's Biographies.
Webster's Dictionaries.
Nagill'c History OF Virginia,
Ho m es's New History of The United states.
The Grap phlc Copy hooks.
Cookies Virginia for supplementary read
2. That while no requirement is hereby
made that cities or counties shall change
the text. books previously adopted and In
use, all text booRs 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 pre-
sciibed. THIS provision for gradual changes
OF text books through period OF four
years according as such changes may he
deemed expedient, will. 10 is believed, re-
duce TO q minimum the Inconvenience TO
the schools and tho expense 10 the people.
3. That the action OF the Beard OF Educa-
tlon in adopting the single series OF text
books above specified shall not be final and
in full effect until the publishing houses
having books In the series die with the
Board OF Education contracts duly exc
cuted obligating themselves 10 provide
supply OF books In each county IN wnlcn
they are used sufficient for tne wants OF
the schools thereof at cost to the pupils
not to exceed the present wholesale prices
named in the price-llsts presented 10 this
Board.
The action Of the Board in the adop-
tion of the above, it will be observed,
does not require any change Of text
books. County and city school boards
during the ensuing four years are left
free to choose between retaining any or
all Of the books which they now have
in use and adopting instead thereof any
or all Of the books on the list pre-
scribed by the Board. As most of
these books are used in large majority
of the counties the patrons Of the
schools, whether changes be made or
not, will be saved considerable expense
probably not less than $50, 900 per an-
num) by the lower rates provided for
in the contracts with publishers.
Nearly all the books prescribed by
the Board have been on the State list
Of licensed books ever since the public
school system was inaugurated in Vir-
giDia. A large part Of these books
has undergone such revisions as was
deemed necessary to keep them abreast
the age. They are esteemed among
the best school books in use, and ought
to commend themselves as being, with
one or two exceptions, Of Virginia au-
thorship.