The daily critic., 1890-09-11
FAsoNeroy p. G. sErr.i1 1880.
TuE ANNUAL SCHOOL BOOK
BURDEN

guE ANNUAL SCHOOL BOOK
BURDEN.
The angos in textbooks to be used
in the public schools of the city the
coming school year, as announced by
the board, appears to be confined to The
eighth grade and are five in number and
Include the books used in the study of
algebra and history This class Of text
books is always high In price and the
change to those whom &c effects means
an expense covering the cost of the
books. In addition TO this sum which
will be probably from three to five
dollars, the odds and ends in the way
Of pads, pencils, states. drawing books,
etc, required by every pupil, IS on an
average half as much more, and as
there are generally several children 10
school from one household the average
parent is already groaninr In spirit
over the expenditure he either must
make or else see his children deprived Of
the advantages Of the schools
This school book evil IS one endured
ly the public In every district IN the
country AMI from which a strong cry
for relief goes up at The beginning Of
every school year The outlay for
books which, &c may be safely said, is
rarely less than five dollars for one pu.
pil and Is double and treble this amount
according TO the number Of children
sent 10 school from one household,
comes at a season when its payment IS
most burdensomC to the wage .earners Of
the family. AT this time Of the year all
the usual expenses are iucrea scd heavily
by reason Of the preparations for winter
which even the poorest are compelled tD
make according 10 their income; Fuel to
warm the hearth, increased clothing for
the body and more food for the stomach
hrc necessities that will not down at
any bidding That, with these never
out Of 81 ght so many children every
whore are provided with the expensive
Quilt for years Attendance no the
Iu'.ic .chools shows how highly the
Auuican citizen, the couatry over.
rates tbe advantages to him and hi,
furnished by our popular system OF
education. II is argued ly many tha
Tie relief from this pressure
on the patrons Of the schoO. can be
effected In hut one way, and that this Is
for the municipalities 10 provide the
necessary books In the case Of very
poor pupils this is now done. and in this
way the unfortunate victims of poverty
are often made TO suffer the keenest
pangs Of humiliation. While there Is a
question whether government which
builds furnishes and warns the school
houses and hires the teachers should 60
further and place upon the pupils
desks all the books they need, there can
he no question that the yearly outlay
neCessitated By The frequent changes is
ii grieyous burden to the masses Of the
people, and that IT'S lifting, In some
manner, would extend the advantages Of
the schools TO the very class that need
them the most. The only benedciaries
Of the present system seem 10 be the
school-book publishers, and these have
enjoyed rich haTyests for many years.
WoMEN's CLUBS HAVE not been sue
Cessful as a rule and have been pro
verbally shoTtlived The Sorosis Of
New York has been notable ex
ceplion and iis OIL shoot. the Ladies
New York Club, Il would appear, IS
entering upon like successful career.
II has been in existence year numbers
four hundred members and has steady
applications for new memberships ON
Monday # moved from rs first quarters
70 a aspaciOus four story house which Il
Is believed Il will not outgrow for some
time. The object Of this club Is prin- |
oiPally 10 provide a comfortable stop /
Ing place for its members. IL serves /
frt-C'as luncheous and dinners Ll |
caftss 4 has reading rooms and sitting I
rooms, and the upper stories Of the |
building are furnished comfortably as
bed rooms So that the clubs outof-
town members, who are about two
hundred strong, may be accommodated /
ag vel as those who live IN the city.
The president Of the club viii reside
the house with her family. and IT is
believed that everything VIII run along
smoothly and apple pie order be main
tanned u an times