Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-24
The SchOol-BOOk List.
NICHMOND, W., JuIy ~ 1O'0'
To the Editor of the Dispatch:

RICHMOND, Va, July q, 1890.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
| have lust seen the official announce
ment of the State Board of Education IN
regard TO the matter of textbooks pre-
seribed for use in the public free schools
of the State for the next four years, and as
there has been much discussion OF the mat
ter ask for space in your columns 10 pre-
sent q view of the subject that l do not
think has vet found its way into the news
papers: xo.noo,;vs NAM
bers of the State Board of Education 10
four wears. Every four years the board
makes contracts with publishers OF text
books for supplies of the books to be fur
nished through dealers and merchants TO
the pupils of the schools. Hence, every
| four years the contracts expire by Iinita-
ton, and new contracts are required 10 10
made. The board fixes the prices OF tho
books, and prescribes the regulations gov
erning their introduction and use IN the
! schools. ,,,..
Prior to 1886 the Board of Education In
Office from term to term adopted severai
series of books-as. for example, several
ar,thmetics. biographies, histories, &c;
| and authorized county and city school
| boards to select such of the books on the
| State list as they deemed best adapted
1
| policy resulted in the introduction and use
| of quite "A variety of textbooks In the
| schools. as teachers were at liberty to name
| their choice of the books on the State list,
| and county and city boards were author
| lied to adopt them.
| In 1856 the State Board adopted what Is
| known as "one- book list. This list COM
| prised the books on each subject most
| largely in use in the schools books when
- 4. -, ~ az
| when several series of books were on the
| State list. County and city boards were
| allowed to continue in use any or ali oil
such books during the four ,years-lSs6-
! ls90-or to adopt the books on the one-oook
list prescribed. A.
| This policy. no matter what were the
relative merits Of the books adopted, nau
decided tendency to exclude many good
books, the merits of which had been tested
in the classroom, and many OF which
| books were and are preferred to any others
by teachers who are familiar with the lead
ing textbooks published.
The present Board Of Education has made
new contracts with the publishers Tor loui
wears, beginning August /, 1890 1.-THE Date
of the expiration of the contracts made 10y
the previous board. And this writer Il
confident that teachers and Others who are
familiar with the books adapted to public
| schools Will recognize oh tuc bSt Va c0on'
adopted the very cream Of textbooks pre-
pared for public schools.
The prices at which the books are to b'
sold TO pupils of the schools are, in my
Judgment, IA low as the books can be made
and handled at the publishers wholesale
rates. -,
The present Board of Education, while
authorizing the continuance OF the book
now used il county and city boards y
elect, still gives those boards authority Il
adopt other books on the State list. :,
The Board of Education deserves thu
} thanks Of teachers and patrons for thu
wisdom exercised in the adoption Just an
nounced, whereby the very best textbooks
in my opinion. are prescribed for use II
the schools, and are required 10 be setaile'
TO pupils at the lowest prices attAinable
Ths Hon. John L. Massey has dispiayet
his usual wisdom and furnished additiona
evidence of his great foresight by hi
action in this matter. and he and the othe
members of the board have shown YER
} intelligent appreciation OF the subject an
, q colnm~ndable desire to MAINTAIN Ia
!, efficiency Of our schools.