Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-03-13

r - - N'"AHN' " = hAoN thdt pduiieH-
ing houses are frequently bringing out
new editions of textbooks not so much
10 meet public demands as to make
their own business lively. Some of
these changes are confessed improve
ments, others are questionable, and still
others are positive injury. Some
changes in some books, Biographies in
particular, are necessary TO keep them
abreast of the times. But our Water
bury correspondent understands very
well that the logical outcome of his po-
sition would require a change of geog-
raphy once in three months if not Of
tener. If his argument proves anything
II proves too much and loses its value.
We do not use such press as Frank
lin used but five attempted to keep the
latest improved presses in our offices
we should become bankrupt within
year. The utmost that we can do is
to buy the latest and best when we buy
and submit to the necessity of finding
ourselves little behind the times in a
short time. A man buys a dictionary,
if some book agent doesn't try TO buy
him up with one, and he finds it all in
complete readiness for use, but within
a year many new words will have been
formed that cannot be found in his die
tionary. He does not throw the die
tionary away at once. lie must gath
er the meaning of new words from
their construction and the connection
in which they are found. We do not
ask that the Biographies used before i
the discoveries Of the 18th and 10th '
centuries be used now, nor even those il
we studied and taught ourselves, but i,
ought the people OF Vermont to bear the !,
burden of an expense of from fifteen 10 81
twenty-five thousand dollars charged to Il
he geography account. simply because = =
our new States have been admitted to is
he Union. The biographies Of the Il
ast five years or Whereabouts ought to II
e good for FIVE years 10 come, and the "a
hanges that are continually taking d.
lace in boundary lines, forms Of gov 7, y
mment. should be noted by those who al
i've instruction in geography. Every b,
eacher ought to be able 10 supplement 10
very textbook in use, SO far at least ei
5 to keep the instruction given abreast A
f the times. With all the pleas adj II
auced for change intext-books there u
, no denying the fact that they are tn
lade more frequently than necessity h 4,
equires, and at great burden Of cost p; p,
> the people. The burden is none the in
sss whether paid by the State or by n
Individuals, although it may be distrib- n n
ted in little different way. There da
no denying the fact that publishing s.
ouses through their agents are most So
ctive in bringing about these changes. sa
When the bottom is reached If is large
an affair of dollars and cents. IL Is M
contest between school book publish at
A
rs and the public, and the publishers =
nder present arrangements are plough y y
u with the county boards. These "a
cards have plenty OF arguments to jus d.
fy their action. Some OF their argu-
Ients are good, Others carry no special "
eight. Whether or not changes shall !"
! made is to some extent matter Of 10
,inion a. Is evident from the fact that il
Iere cannot be harmony Of action be- r,
seen the boards-what some reject as WI
,or others accept as good. How far - s.
,ards may be influenced by considera- III.
,ns Of any kind the general public me
ay not know. They are supposed 10 VIC
I honestly and conscientiously. But mo- Z,
ere is too little consideration Of the ~ ~
alter Of cost in making changes. The Is,
ople of Vermont have been burdened an,
carry out public Improvements au- d
orized bv former legislatures. They do,
, not IN good condition To- assume the ba,
St-book burden should II be imposed bro
IA in the case of individuals it IS apt an
be true that those are least able to YOU
ct the change Of books upon whom he'll
. burden viii bear the heaviest. We unt
Iieve that one set of books viii ans von
r the purpose of one generation of diss
ldren. and when changes come let SAP
IN come to meet the demands Of cur,
a. creueration. We can save much PRl