Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-26
DIR. TOLAR'S TEXT BOOK BILL.
Grave Objections to the BiIl-ToO Much Power
in One Mans Hands.

III Oat hdilS
PILor POINT, TEX. Jan. q, 1853.
To the Gazette.
The need of legislation on this impor-
tant subject is evident to every thinking
mind The diversity of text books is
almost as great as the number of teach
ers. The frequent changes of text books
in our schools is crying evil loudly de-
handing abatement. Yet we are not
convinced that the remedy offered in DR..
TOlar's bin is the thing needed. There
are grave objections to this measure,
which to our mind condemn it as not
only impractical, but really dangerous
to the public school interests of the state.
Our first objection is that absolute
power is placed in the hands of one man
to dictate what the text books of Texas
schools shall be.
The superintendent of public instrue-
ton is able, under DR.. Tolar s bill to die
tate what books shall be used, as the
gentlemen associated with him on this
commission are not school men aud in all
probability neither ever Taught school ia
their lives, hence know little or nothing
of the multitude of textbooks that must
pass under review in order to give our
school the very best system of textbooks
available. Nor would the distinguished
gentlemen who are associated by DR..
Tolar with the superintendent Though
possessed of needed practical experience)
be able to spare time from the pressing
duties of their important official trusts to
aid in the difficult work of selecting such
textbooks as should meet the wants of
all classes. Thus it would be left
quite at the discretion of the
superintendent giving HIM the
power to impress his individual
moral or political views upon the entire
youth of the state, inocrlating them with
the views of political dogma or religious
creed contrary to the wishes of their
parents,
Another grave objection to putting such
power IN the hands of one or two men is
that it would sooner or later end in OBJ
noXious faYoritism IN awarding contracts,
or even in downright venality and
bribery The number possessing q con-
trolling influence would be UNFORTUNATELY
beseiged by the agents of rival publishers
and offers of fat brides would without
doubt be made to induce the board TO
adopt this or that publisher
books We do not question
the integrity of the gentlemen whom Dr..
Tolar IS bill would charge with the Oner-
Gus task of selecting a series of text
books for the great state of Texas Yet
this writer believes il viii be q grave er-
roT to place such temptation TO bribery
in the way of publishers TO seek to sway
the coLscienees of our public servants
from the line of right doug, besides it is
not certain we shall always have in
corruptible men to fill these positions.
History, alas! records numerous in
stances where men whom the people en-
trusted with public hOnors could not re-
sist the siren voice of clinking gold, and
fell into temptation.
We would like to suggest that a meas
ure RELOCATING the duty of selecting text
books to the teachers viii be a more equi-
table method, and doubtless more salts
factory TO both teachers and people.
Let the superintendent of pub
lie instruction be empowered
and directed to issue Instructions
to the various county Judges
directing them TO call n convention Of
teachers in each county to discuss and
adopt, by majority vote, a series of text
books for the county for term Of five or
ten years, at the expiration of which the
teachers should be called together for
revision of the series. Such county con-
ventiOn could be held during summer va
cation, when teachers have abundant
IeisuFe.
The manifest advantages accru-
ing from this county plan would
be: first, the teachers who next
TO the people are most deeply interested
would be allowed a'voice in the selection
of text books which they are TO use.
Secondly, the temption TO publishers TO
attempt TO secure favorable consideration
for their publications by bribing the COM
mission would be avoided, and the text
books agreed upon would represent the
expression of the teachers, who are the
only body competent TO pass upon the
text book question The plan briefly
he writer thinks, would
meet the appreciation of both teachers
and people, reducing the cost of school
books TO a minimum without disturbing
DR. destroying the present system of sup
plyi6g books in a convenient and satis-
factory way. A. NJ. X.