Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-23
OUR SCHOOL BOOKS.
SHALL THE STATE FURNISH THEM
FREE FOR PUPILS.
A Correspondent Who Thinks This
is Taking One Step Too Far"fOr
the Dear People,

of the schccls with textbooks, free of cost.
No doubt the author of the bill acted in
good faith, and, as he thought, for the best
interest Of the State. This bill, at first
sight, locks plausible, and is likely to meet
with the appreciation Of these who read it
over in casual way. But, if properly d.
gested, it will be seen that it is mis-
chievous bill, one that Will, should it be-
come law, involve the State in an
enormous and unnecessary expense; and
this, not only for one year, but for all time,
as long as it remains in the Statutes.
Perhaps there is not one man in the State
this moment, nay, one member of the Leg
islature, who can tell what it will cost.
should this bill become a law, to
furnish textbooks free of charge to
all the children attending the public
schools. 1t is true that the statistics
give the number of children attending
these schools, and the books necessary for
their use, together with the cost of ma
terial and labor in the getting up of them.
How then, can it be said that it is impos-
sible now to tell what it will cost the
State to supply them free of cost? What
is to prevent the State. having all these facts
before her, from ascertaInlng at glance,
the expense Involved in this undertaking?
Your correspondent admits that the State
knows the number Of children attending
her schools and also the cost of material
and labor i'll getting up these books but
does she know, should she assume the re-
sponsibility of furnishing them, free of
cost, to her children, how many thousand
of them she shall need annually? She
does not know this, nor can anyone at
present give her this information. This
is at present a mystery, which time, and
time only, can unravel. At present,
children must get money from their
parents to purchase their textbooks,
and, if they tear or lose them, they
mnst apply again to their parents
for money to replace them. They know
that in calling on their parents second
time for money for this purpose they run
the risk of incurring their displeasure, and,
in many cases, Of exposing themselves to
corporal punishment. This, of itself, makes
them careful not to lose or destroy them.
Parents themselves, having to supply the
necessary funds for the purchase of these
books, exercise a certain salutary supervi-
sion over their children in the use of
them, and, in many cases, after some have
passed on to higher grades, they preserve
their books for those who are coming
after. But let the State assume the re-
sponsibility of furnishing these books free
of cost to all the children of the schools
and what will be the result? Will school
children, knowing that they can have these
books free of cost, be as careful of them as
they now are? They will not, and it would
be the hight offolly to expect this of them.
VIII parents themselves, not having to
furnish the necessary funds for
the purchase of the books, exercise the
same salutary supervision over their
children, in the treatment of them, that
they now do? They will not. The result
then will be that these textbooks if fur
nished free of cost to the children, will not
receive the proper care at their hands, but
will, in many cases, be found on the side
walks, in the play grounds and wood-sheds;
yes, and perhaps where the Bible, when
furnished gratis by the Bible Tract So
ciety, was often found. 1t is an old and
true saying that what we get free of cost
without labor is not appreciated by us,
and in the matter of textbooks, should
the bill in question become law, this say
ing will be surely verified. Hence, your
correspondent is safe In saying that no one
can now tell how much it will cost the
State to furnish the number of books
that will be needed under such
law. Moreover, suppose there is
no danger of the abuses to which
your correspondent refers ever occurring,
suppose his apprehensions are not well
founded; Isl nota short-sighted policy
on the part of the State to assume a re-
sponsibility which, properly speaking, be-
longs TO parents? 1t is as much, in a
measure, the duty of parents TO provide
school-books for their children, when their
means permit ii, as it is to provide clothes
for them. Aswell, then, might the State
assume the responsibility of providing
articles of dress, free of cost, for all the
children of her schools as school-books. If
our statesmen and Legislators go on much
longer progressing, or rather tinkering in
school matters, the next bills shall hear
of being introduced in the Legislature will
be an Act to authorize the School Di-
rectors of the cities and counties of this
State to furnish daily, free of cost. hot
lunches for the children If the schools,
buses to take them land from school in
wet weather, and marbles aad dolls for the
girls and boys TO play with"
When the State provides school-build-
ings, furniture, fuel and teachers for her
children; and free school books for those
who cannot afford to pay for them, she has
done her duty, her whole duty, in the
matter of education. But, when she goes
farther than this, when she assumes a re-
sponsibility which properly belongs to
parents, she is then stepping on slippery
ground, she is pursuing an unwise policy,
and is thus imposing ON her taxpayers an
unwise burden.
There are many .ethersworthy objects to
which the present Legislature might direct
its attention and extend its generosity,
with credit to itself and advantage TO the
State. A bill making more liberal appro-
priations for the proper, housing and care
of her insane, her deaf. dumb and blind.
her aged and infirm, would be more in
keeping with good craftsmanship and sound
public policy, than bill TO furnish school
books free of cost 10 children whose parents
can afford to purchase them.
Your correspondent firmly believes that
if the precent Legislature will make proper
provisioRifor the above and other charities
tHCiS VIE NC tittiC kit S{lff73,tdtS
ury for the supplying Of free books to the
children of. the schools. The DUTY of the
State is to help those who cannot help
themselvess.an have ne one responsible
for their support and care, and, there is no
doubt but shat the proper precision for
and care Of these worthy objects will tax
her TO her utmost just nov. To. these she
has the righteo be liberal, hat she. has no
right, as has been already stated, to. assume
responsibility which, properly spec king,
belongs to parents, one whiek they have
met in the past without murmgr, and will
meet in future il left to then,Selves,ts do
so.
Your correspondent wishes aiss 10 state
that at former sexton OF the LegisIatas-e
a similar bill to the one in question was
defeated by able representatives an she
above grounds, viz. .that the passage OF
such a bill would inyqsFe the State in .an
enormous expense and that it was coSfrary
to sound public policy for the STATE 10
assume a burden which properly belonged
TO parents A CITIzES.
San Francisco, January. -, 1889.
Proposed Law CoBcerntng Litigation.
EDS. RECORD UNION : shall GOT attempt