Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-07-18
New Text Book. in the Public Schools.

New Text Books In the Public Schools.
To he Eiaor ofts Register:
Believing that you aim to take the part
of the people in all matters pertaining to
the public good, I ask You to insert this
from one OF the people, hoping that it may
prove eficacious in promoting their inter
ests.
have been informed that a change of
books IN our public schools is seriously
contemplated by the Board Of Education,
and by this means desire to call public at
tention TO 1t, and at the same time enquire
is a change desirable at this time? If a
book is old and behind the times, or has
outiived its usefulness nobody ought to
object to its bsiDg superseded By some
thing better, If the welfare OF the school Is
to be advanced thereby. But who
are complaining? 1 know something OF
our schools and of their success, but have
heard no serious objection urged against
the books now in use, yet 1t Is said that
some oft Principals have asked the Board
TO change readers and some other books.
WHY? An, there's the rub Have not our
schools as good books as are used in this
broad land-published by the best houses?
think so.
There can be no Job in it, for there never
are any lobs in school book changes (?)
but IL does seem strange that lust as soon
as the law allows it, there are those con-
nected with our schools who are ready to
listen 20 some smooth book agent and
make a change, at great inconvenience and
expense 90 the people, who are not able to
afford the lnNury. 10 my opinion no
greater sgindle can be perpetrated upon
an uususpecting public than a scheme OF
school book publishers 10 effect q
change in their school books. Dor schools
are now al supplied, or nearly so, with
good books. Let a change come and
every family, rich and poor, is put to
certain and sure expense. And whyP
Probably, simply and only TO please some
publishing house that II may rep uch
harvest of amuch victimized community.
Are the people generally spprised of
these kind OF moves by their servants?
On. 90. Ii IL none of their business. The
only knowledge h. Is desirable for them to
have concerning the matter Is, when mott
fcaton Is served upon them that the bills
are due aud mus, be paid at once.
It Is said that a certain Publishing house
has been trying 10 worm its way into the
affections of some Of our school officers that
II may get control OF the school book
trade I'M our city. And right
here I stop to wonder whether that
house can be the one Of whom 1t Is said it
controls the Ohio l. -gislature 40 completely
that no law IN that State relsting to text
books can be enscted without its consent
I hope such is not the fact.
What DO some of these monOp0listiC
book concerns care for the boys and girls
without shoes, if their parents are CON-
PEELED 10 buy books for them2 Nothing.
They are merely looking to their own In
terests. lie. us, then, look to ours. Now,
therefore, gentlemen Of our Board OF
Education, do your whole duty to the
constituency whom you serve, or ought to
serve, by consulting their interests, before
becoming inveigled into entsngling ALI
ancas with the willy agents OF any OF those
gigantic book publishing monopOlies.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.