The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-20

AT the November election IN 1884 the people
OF California, by an almost unanimous vote,
amended sec of art. IA of their state consti-
tuition TO read as follows:
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Section :. The governor. superintendent Of pub
schools shall constitute the state board OF education,
and shall compile or cause TO be compiled, and adopt
uniform series OF text-books for use in the common
cause such books, when adopted, to be printed and
published by the superintendent OF state printing at
the state printing office and when 50 printed and
price of printing, publishing and distributing the
same. The textbooks 50 adopted shall continue in
shall perform other duties may be prescribed
bv law. The legislature shall provide for board of
education in each county in the state.
The county superintendent and county boards OF
education shall have control OF the examination of
teachers and the granting OF teachers certificates
within their respective jurisdictions.
The legislature at its next session, after the
adoption of this amendment, passed, and the
governor approved, q bill providing for the
compiling and printing Of the books named
therein and appropriated $4,000 with which
10 purchase the plant and carry on the work
until the next meeting OF the legislature. OF
this amount $4,000 was set apart TO be ex-
pended by the state board of education in com
pilng the text books, and $4,000 to be
pended by the state printer for the plant,
materials and labor. This law proved defective
in some respects, adequate means having
been provided for the distribution OF the text
books and no provision having been made for
producing additional books after the first
appropriation should become exhausted, the
first editions of the books sold ana the money
paid into the state treasury. These deficiencies
were supplied by the succeeding legislature,
and the California law, as it is now IN opera
ton, prOvides
1. That the state board of education shall
compile or cause 10 be compiled for, use in the
IL - uofo o1,ra1
text books, comprising three readers, one
speller two arithmetics, one grammar, two
Biographies one book OF language lessons or
elementary grammar, one history OF the United
States, and one physiology and hygiene, includ-
ing a system of gymnastic exercises and special !
instruction as to the nature of alcoholic drinks
and narcotics and their effect upon the human
system.
. That the state board of education shall
employ well qualified persons to compile the
text books before mentioned, and shall fix the
remuneration for services thus rendered; pro-
vided that if competent authors shall compile
any one or more works of the first order OF excel
lence, and offer the same free gift to the peo-
pie of the state, together with the copyright of
the same. and the exclusive right to manufac-
ture and sell such works within the state of
California, it shall be the duty of the board to
accept such gift, and to eXpend no money Tor
the purpose of compiling works relating to
the subjects treated in the books thus donated.
a.
be printed and bound at the state printing
Office, under the direction of the superintendent
of state printing, all materials used therein 10
be purchased OF the lowest and best bidder
after advertising for proposals.
4. That the state board of education shall
secure copyrights to all the books that shall be
compiled under the provisions OF the act, and
protect them against infringement. The state
board shall also furnish designs for all cuts.
engravings etc, to be used in the books.
l. -, Id
and adopted the state board shall issue an or
der requiring the uniform use of such book in
the schools, the order not to take effect until
the expiration of one year from the time Of
completion of the electrotype plates.
8. That all school books compiled by the
state shall be furnished to the public school
children at the cost of printing, publishing and
distributing the same. The cost is TO be ascer-
tanned and fixed by the state board on or be-
fore the 10Th day of June OF each school year:
These are the NAN features of the law. Books
can be ordered by the county superintendent
of schools, principals of state normal schools
and the secretary or clerk of any school dis
trict. The cash is to accompany all orders. 1t
is made the duty of county boards of super
visOrs to provide revolving fund for the pur-
pose of enabling the county school superin-
tendents to purchase the text books; ali mon
eys taken there from replaced by the mon
eys received from the sale OF the books to the
pupils
important of which date only from 1887, the
following named books of the series have been
compiled, adopted by the state board of edu-
cation, published and are now in IN the
schools of California: One set OF three readers,
one speller and word analysis, one set of two
arithmetics, English grammar and
history of the United States. The following
named books of the series are now in process
OF compilation: One elementary grammar or
Language lessons" one elementary geography
and one physiology and hygiene. These
books, together with a comprehensive
geography" not yet commenced, will
complete the state list thus far provided for by
law. Prof Fred II. Clark, principal of the
Los Angeles high school, and graduate OF the
California state university, Is the author OF the
History of the United States" He
lected upon the strength of specimen chapters
submitted by himself and a number of other
persons for the inspection of the board OF ed
ucatiOn. 1T is but just to him." says the state
superintendent of schools in his last report
Ito say that his work has fully met my own
expectations, received the approval of the
board OF education and the commentator OF
school officers and Of the pressN Mr.. w. IT,
V. Raymond a leading educator of California,
has been made editor-in-ehief of the entire
series. Prof {. III. Allen OF the state university
has charge of the preparation of the English
grammar and language lessons, and Prof. Ira
Moore of the state normal school has super
vision of the preparation of several other works
in the series.
The above information is derived from the
last report of the state superintendent of
schools, Prof Ira G. Hoitt.- From this docu-
ment the following extract IS taken:
Having been one OF the earliest advocates Of state
series OF text books IL has not only been my duty
but my purpose and pleasure TO aid in giving the
successful issue. Since some OF the books have been
issued and gone into use find many persons who
being opposed 70 the undertaking at first, have now
become convinced OF its feasibility and economy.
Some Of the books have been pronounced the best of
their kind, and / am OF the opinion judging from
observations in the various schools which have
visited and from the expressions Of superintendents
and teachers at Institutes that the experiment thus
far has fully met the expectations OF It's most ardent
friends, and that the books themselves are giving q
good degree OF satisfaction.
II the books good as others, or will answer
the purpose well, then the question which most
concerns the parents Isl Which will cost the least?
II may be claimed, aud must be admitted that IL
will cost private publishing house. The state pays
better wages than the private publisher, and works
its help eight hours a day, while the private pub
Usher works his help ten hours day. But the
is interested not in the actual first cost OF the
books, but in the cost 10 him.
Since the state charges manufacturer profit,
tobbers profit. and the retail dealer is allowed, by
law, TO charge than IL will cost the pupil TO
have the books sent 10 him by mail the retail dealer
making only the difference between postage and
freght, IL follows that the consumer, pupil pays
the private publisher his retail dealer from 80
66 per cent than he is required 70 pay the state
for his text books.
Hero follows a comparative table showing