Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-21

n nSADENI HOMER b. SPAAG u Es
Views of President sprague OF North
ern Dakota University ON the Ques-
ton of Free Text Books for Public
schools.
Colonel Homer B. Sprague, who is the
guest of Judge Sheldon, his classmate at coll
iege here, was interviewed by COURIER rep
resentative last night. It is not certain, he
said, whether he would be able to stay in
New Haven to address the school meeting
next week on the free text book question or
not, although the Judge said he would try his
best to make him do 30. The fact is that the
colonel is obliged, as the delegate from Colo
RADIO to attend the national G.. A. R. reunion
at Milwaukee next week; but If the date does
not conflict with the meeting here he says
ne would be pleased to talk on the subject
he has SO much at heart.
During the interview Colonel Sprague said:
1.-The State of Massachusetts, has tried the
free text book plan pretty thoroughly. saw
the secretary of the school committee of Bos-
ton the other day and he expressed himself
as very much grati6ed with its results. It
has greatly increased the number of pupils,
especially In the high schools, and prolonged
their stay in the schools. The books were all
kept well and returned in good condition, and
could be used for number of years. Phila-
delphia has tried the plan for 100 years or
more, New York also for great many years
and Newark, too. They are all satisfied with
its working. No great city that has once
adopted it has ever given it up."
cit is cruel to compel the parents to buy
school books for their children while they
are uncertain about their bread and butter.
You may make them come before the school
board and swear to their poverty that they
may get the beeks free, but they would hold
back as long as they could. It is natural;
l pride can i'll brook the idea of confessinQ
penury and inabilit::."
"And here is point nat occurred to me
now, and Of no small Importance. The pu-
pills always seem to bring wrong books, some
former editions or old books their brothers
| and sisters used, and it is some time before
| they are we'll started in work It is simply 8
loss of time"
"The books are loaned and not given away
| In Massachusetts,; they are owned by the city
l or village where the schools are. Every
morning they are inspected by the teachers
| they sometimes have occasion to instruct the
| pupils on the duty of keeping public proper
| ties clean; and if they were too badly injured
the school made the pupils replace them.
'sThere can be no apprehension of the pu.
pills losing the spirit of independence and
/ eelI-reuanco. IL Iney cnoOse 10 guy Gnt
books to remember their school days, why
let them buy the right books; they can enjoy
the sense of ownership"
SIT is urged that if we give tuition free
the use of the building free, the apparatus
free, the books free, why not free clothing
| and boots and dinner?
The answer is that it is better to furnish
| even those than to leave the growing mass in
ignorance. But it is found not necessary t.
go so far. The rich have really no idea how
the poor often have to struggle to make boil
ends meet.
Colonel Sprague was years ago principal o
Webster school in New Haven. He was af
terward principal of the State Normal schoo
in New Britain, and later principal of Abel
phi academy in Brooklyn. He was fou
years in the army. At present he is presi
dent of the Northern Dakota university. h
has been nominated for the United State
| Senate from the State of Northern Dakota.