The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-09-19

There is a movement to secure state
uniformity of text books. This origl-
mated in Washington County at the May
meeting of the County Board. The Revs.
w. r. Davenport, W. S. Hazen and Mr..
j. E. Eldridge were appointed a com
mittee to confer with reference TO Sc
curing uniformity in the selection of
text books. This committee has made a
report which embodIes the following
facts
/. While 1t is true that the statute
does not specifically eDjOin uniformity
in the selection of text books, but leaves
such selection to the separate county
boards, there is nothing in the law that
binders the various counties from TAX
ing such action as will secure the result
named,
9. Favorable terms can be made in
proportion to the magnitude of the pur
chase. Hence, if the whole state unite
in purchasing the same books, much
better terms can be secured, and much
money saved to the people, There are
children to-day out of school because
their parents feel too poor to procure the
books necessary for their use.
3. The state contains a large class OF
people who are constantly shifting their
place of residence, the change often in
Guiding transfer from one country to
another as well as from one town to an
other. A uniform system of text books
would prevent the necessity of purchas
ing a part or the whole of set of books
for the children when such move is
made.
4. There are several districts in the
state that include fractions of two coun-
ties as well as of two towns, and auton-
omy in the selection of books would
render such schools embarrassing to the
teacher and unpleasant to the pupil.
8. With possibly one exception the
supervisors elect have all signified their
approval of the effort to secure uniform.
ity, and have promised their aid to bring
it about. The state superintendent is
slso heartily in favor of the project, and
thinks it move in the right direction.
A similar opinion prevails with other
prominent educators who have been
consulted.
9. We therefore recommend that the
various county boards hold session in
the near future in which they each APP
point a committee Of three to meet at
Montpelier on Wednesday the twenty
fifth of September, at 10 O'Clock a. M,
such committee being empowered to act
for and in behalf of the county repre-
scented.
Z. Even if all the counties in the
state do not decide to co operate in the
matter, great good may come from even
partial cooperation. We most earnestly
solicit all TO give the matter careful con-
sideration, and duly weigh the merits of
the question.
We are in favor of this proposition
provide the right books are selected. If
the county boards will elect one man
each to form the committee of selection,
men who are practical and successful
educators and who, withsl, cannot be
bought with either money or sentiment,
such a choice of text books would en-
phasize the fair reason for uniformity
above, But If the selection is to be left
to the accident of choice by men elect
ed at town meetings, wholly, we prefer
to take our chances on county uniform
ity first. Thirty years ago we taught
with the uniform text books then en-
joined by this state, and wildly recall
the history of certain series of Arith.
metics-hence our protest in advance
of any possible repetition Of history on
this subject