The Somerset reporter., 1889-03-28
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Free Text Book Law.

/ LIE Portland Express puDi#.4r- tllt
following Interview with Hon. y. \.
Luce. Supt. of schools.
There was no law which passed the
Legislature more streunon>ly opposed or
more tenaciouslv fought for thau that
providing for system Of free tex
books and being Of interest am impor.
lance to nearly all the people Of the
State, | saw STATE Superintendent Of
Schools. y. A Luce At h. oiliee to-day.
and he said Il consider this the most
important piece of school legislation
since thu establishment Of the mill tax.
Why soF' | asked.
Because he replied lit makes the
schools absolutely fire.: it viii increase
the attendance. especially of children Of
the poorer classes and will keep them
longer in the schools 1t will make the
schools efficient beCause of better claS>i-
fication and hecan,c every child can be
supplied with all the book, he or she
needs, and promptly supplied: not only
this, but it VIII make q saving Of over
one hundred thousand dollars to the peJ-
pie Of the State in the expense AZ -uiT1f-
ing ami Will stop all the complaints that
have been prevalent Oecatl>e Of too fire.
queut changes of text books.
The law takes effect in August, l,2a,
doesn't IT.
'lcs"
"Why 50 long"
To give the towns an opportunity 10
make the appropriations which it Will be
necessary to make at the next annual
town meetings which could not be atteud
ed to this year aud also to give the coun-
try traders and Others a chance TO un-
load the books which they have in
stock
'lIow large appropriations vii it be
necessary for the towns To maxi:
That depends on the number Of
changes they make from the present list
of books they are using and the method
they adopt for starting From - To g
per lhplar will be necessary
w hat will be the cheapest course for
the town to pur>ueE
"rrobably the wisest way will he TO
to make few changes from the books i'll
usc; to allow all pupils to use their Old
books as long as they wish to turn them
over To the town al fair valuation and
for the town to furnish them new books
to supply the demand, the change being
gradually made.
"llnVe you any plan outlined for the
distribution of books
their distribution to schools viii he un-
der the immediate control of the school
committees of towns. They are 10 make
the regulations for the distribution To
the schools and through the teachers the
regulations for the pupils.
la towns that have abolished the dis
trict system the management will be
comparatively easy and simple. The
school books Will be turned over directly
from the school committee to the teach
ers, the latter becoming responsible for
books received aud pupils 10 the teacher.
Al the close of the term the books are
to he returned To the teacher, the pupils
being held accountable for any unneCe>-
sary Wear, tear oI damage. W here the
district system prevails The management
viii be more difficult. The school agent
will then act between the committee and
L t teacher
What will be the ,h,ct Of this new
law upon the text book trade"
The publishers book agents will dis
appear from the Held as it will not pay
20 send them out, and il may be expected
that purchases viii be made directly Of
the publishers
"Shall You take any special measures
touching the change"
Yes. before the time for the adoption
of thu system We shall ascertain the
price, at which all the publishing houses
viii sell their books to the town and we
shall >end out circular, to the committees
giving the priee list. together with al
facts a. Ia the manner of Introduction.
On that Information the estimates on tie
appropriations needed to start with can
be made We shall shortly send out
circular to school committees advising ~
new Introduction of books tins year, n
they can make changes very much cheap
er in one year, than now,
~. ......ll ..-,.... al..1l ri -l...r. :.