The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-13
ARE THEY AFRAID?
why Are School Officials Silent About the
Text Book Trust?


To THE EDrroR-Sir: Is it not a significant fact
that of the 1900 900 teachers of Indiana not
one is found to oppose openly and boldly the shame
fully extortionate monopoly of school text books7
Can 1t be that teachers have no interest in the school
book question? Can it be true that they believe
school books cost more than ''other similar
modities?" Every well-stocked book counter in the
state has numbers OF neat, bright, beautiful we'll
bound copies OF the best books in literature which
may be purchased at So 40 so cents. Can teacher
purchase of the bright and substantial copies of
Scott, Burns Irving for 80 cents and believe it
higher in price than the bareback electric geosra-
ply at a dollar and forty sixty cents?
Do the teachers believe that the state cannot pro-
talent sufficient to write good of books
it is using? II they do, then il is change of
teachers rather than change OF text books that is
needed. The claim that similarity OF school books
in the several counties OF the state is detrimental
TO the schools, and therefore the state ought not
select the books, is supremely silly, when note
the fact that one firm furnishes the hooks for eight
minis of the counties to-day. Are not, then,
forced to the conclusion that teachers and superin-
tendents favor the schO0l-bOOk monopoly because
they are afraid OF its power? And If this be true,
is il not time that the power that control, not
constituencies, stupid ''blocks OF Ave." from whom
reasonably expect nothing better than servle
obedience to the power which gives them meat and
bread, but an intelligent, model class OF men, be
Do ioverestimate the power of the book trusts?
Let the Indiana School Journal said 10 be the best
paving journal OF Its kind west OF the AlleghenieS
and one which prides itself its ability and honor.
oppose book trusts for the next sixty days and it
will be financially dead in twelve months. This the
editor knows and the editor human. Let the state
superintendent raise his hand against this power and
the visions of glory and financial prosperity which
now lie before him will vanish as ii by magic, and in
two years he will again take up the ferule in some
obscure corner of Boone county And so on down
the line until the rank is reached. Let egs
iatOrS be not deceived To the silence OF teachers
and county superintendents, TO the active
interest few OF them take in the continuance of the
present system Of school book supply. One square
look at the real situation will reveal this hidden
cause OF the present action or nonaetiOn OF teachers
and superintendent. Query: Why does it happen
that just of the leading professors of of
the leading colleges of Indiana is sending printed
circulars to teachers asking their views to the
cheapness of school books compared 10 "other
similar commodities" is II simply coin
cdence, is 1t in the interest of
monopoly? Doubtless the learned professor
believes he is promoting the best interests Of edu
wry strategetic and in the matters which pertain
the "mammon OF unrighteousness" are more than a
match for even Learned" professors. Give the
ground table, at which YOU while writing that
circular professor, a close scrutiny, and, to your
astOnishment you may discover the subtle presence
OF an ETHEREAL something which blinds your mental
optics TO the real status OF the schooboOk question
In the battle now pending no prominent teachers
county superintendent need be expected in the
ranks of the people. They are human and they are
afraid The point make is, let none be deceived
To the reason of this silence the part OF the
or TO the extraordinary activity the part of the
few on the side OF trusts II IL is not the fear OF loss
of position salary which prevents teachers and
the line of textbook reform, let of the more
prominent ones step to the 'front.' and through the
columns of THE SENTINEL give a reason for the
faith that is in them A little public discussion
will do good Come up TO the mark, gentlemen-you
who favor continuance of the present system of the
book supply. You need fear nothing but argument
from those who favor reform ANrI-BooK TRUST.