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

The School Book Question.
State Supt La TOILETTE is out in an
interview in the Nelrs explaining why he
is opposed to the state publication of
school-books. We are quite certain he
doesn't give the correct explanation, but
the one he gives is worthy of a little atten-
ton.
In the first place ne says 'there are a
great many things to be taken into con-
sideration." And so there are. There
are great many things to be taken into
consideration which Supt. La TOILETTE
ignores, but which the people are consfd-
ering very carefully. One is that under
the present arrangement it seems impossi-
BILE to get a state superintendent OF
schools, and almost impossible to get
a county superintendent, town.
ship trustee or a school official of any
kind to remember that he is a servant of
the people, and that his first duty is to
them and not to the school-boOk trust.
This is certainly very seriOns condition
of affairs, and we don't wonder that the
people are concerned about 1t.
Among the things that Supt. La Fol-
LETTE has taken into consideration are
''for instance" that a school-book can
not be compiled so as to be a success at
the start. Experience" he says, "has
shown this to be true always" Has
Supt LA TOILETTE examined the text
books compiled and printed by the state
of California, or read the last report of the
superintendent of public instruction in
that state? We Opine not, albeit
be declares that he "has made
a careful study of various sides
of the question" The California text
books were compiled by educators of wide
attainments and large practical expert
ence. They are we think, equal both in
literary and mechanical execution to any
of the books furnished by VAN ANTWERP,
BRAGG & Co. to the school children of In
diana. The superintendent of public in
struction of California declares that they
have given excellent satisfaction, and that
they are furnished the people at a very
large reduction from the prices charged
under the old system. So experience has
not always shown what Supt La TOILETTE
says it has shown.
Another thing that he thinks should be
taken into consideration is that "a state
can not compete, either in economy or
quality of material, with the big
private publishing establishments which
have grown up year after year in exact
accordance with the observed needs of
business" This may be true, and pro-
baby is. But it is no argument against
the printing of textbooks bv private
firms under contract with the state, after
free and full competition. Under such an
arrangement the state would have all the
advantages which Supt. LA TOILETTE
claims for the publishing houses, and this
is precisely the arrangement proposed in
the bill which Supt. LA TOILETTE and all
the lobbyists for the school-book trust are
antagoniZing.
4 headline over his interview says
Supt. LA TOILETTE 'denounces the trust"
but we have been unable to discover a
single word against the trust in the body
of the article. In fact, there is no refer
ence to it-no recognition of its existence
that we can detect Mr.. LA TOILETTE is
good enough to admit, however, that
there is plenty of room for improvement"
In the present system. He is satisfied that
children in many instances are compelled
TO pay very large prices for books" and
he declares that ''the wholesale dealers
make enormous profits" To remedy all
this he proposes that the state purchase
text books of publishing houses THAT is to
say of the trust-that is to say, again, of
VAN ANTWERP, BRAGG & Coz and
furnish them free to all pupils. This
might reduce the cost of school
books to the people some
what, but it would greatly increase the
profits of the trust, by reducing the ex-
penses of carrying on its business. All
the representatives of the trust that are on
the ground are, singularly enough, in
favor of this very scheme, and if people
draw their own differences we cannot see
that any one is to blame but Supt. LA
TOILETTE himself, notwithstanding his
''desire not to do anything which may be
thought out of harmony with his official
position"