The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-18
UNIFORMITY or TEYr BOOKS.

The interview published In yesterdays ABcricdn
with State Superintendent Smith sets forth strong
reasons against the passage Of any law providing
for a uniform system Of text books for the public
schools throughout the State. The Amlric u has
been opposed 10 such scheme from the beginning,
and cntcu Co. most emphatic protest against the
passage uf Guy such law. The experience OF oihor
States has not been such % commend it here, and
IL has not inircquontly been the source OF scandal
as Il is always sOurce,of suspicion aud charges of
iayorItism and jobbcry A uniform system Of
school text books ~ provided in the bill which
has been introduced In the Senate. would simply
be big monopoly fastened upon the entire state
by three men, and one which once getting q grip
would be hard To shake loose, II is better 10 leave
these things with the County superintcndents and
the Dlsiric, Directors AS Capt Smith says more
than half the counties Of the State have already
adopted uniform systems Of oxthooa Of their
own accord. these vary Of course according 10 the
different ulsics and opinions In the different
countio, aud we think 10 Ia well that Il should be
~, The public school system OF the State Is
steadily and constantly improving aud the people
are becoming every year more apprcclativc OF It's
benefits Any violent Interference such as that
proposed In the blll referred 10, with the existing
condition Of things, aud u sudden aud sweeping
change In tho textbooks adopted all over the
HHAANf NfNAN w HNlilhA VI NlHMfh7lAiNhu hUu
complaint our public schools bro doing well
enough don't Try 10 legisatc too much improve.
ment into the sysicm.--. ashrGle m,r .cm
Tnr APPEAL is happy TO learn from the
above that The american is in accord with
II in lis opposition TO the passage of the
bill providing for school book commits
sion, and also for uniform syslcm Of text
books for the public schools Of the State.
The reasons IL gives for this opposition are
sound and such rs must commend them
selves to the members Of the Legislature.
The State cannot m justice to publishers
and authors generally go into partnership
with any publishing.housc or any special
author and secure TO them monopoly in
the State ia the matter Of school books.
Thatwould be- protection in H. worst form.
and protection IL not Democratic. Besides,
II in school books, why should not the
State go into business TO supply any.
thing and everything needed by the
people? The members Of tho Legis-
laiurc, II they consult the wishes
OF their constituents In this matter,
will, rs The 1meriodn advises, let well
enough alone. All Of the counties, cities
and towns Of the State have selected their
school books, and, as Superintendent
Smith says, ono-hali Of them have uniform
systems. But whether this was the case
or not, there II not 80 much difference be-
tween the books offering nowadays ~ TO
make uniformity an urgent necessity. The
people Of Memphis are quito satisfied with
the textbooks In use In their public
schools, aud 80 are those OF shelby County
with theirs. They don't know and don't
care whether they are tho same rs
those in use In Nashville and David
son County or not They satisfy their do.
mands for their children and that suniccs.
The public schools have made rapid head.
way under existing circumstances, aud all
they need is more money to do better
They need money enough from the State to
enable the Superintendent 10 keep them
open from the lot Of October until the lat
OF April, the months when boys aud girls
In the country can bcs, hc spared from the
Geld and the house to doyoto themselves
TO school aud study.