Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-02-01
WHEELING, W. VA, SUNDAY MORNING,

populous States the power of adopting
books is too great to be intrusted TO any
one board"
The Hon. Fred. NJ Campbell, another
eX-State Superintendent, writing about the
same time, expresses his opposition TO State
publication and State uniformity in Ian
guage far more decisive than that used by
Mr.. SWEET
The Hon. Ira G.. Hoitt. present State
Superintendent, who himself had large
share in the preparation OF the State BOOKS,
and until recently strong advocate OF
State publication, even maintaining IL his
biennial report for lSS9-90, that the law is
giving fair satisfaction, seems at last to
have entirely lost faith in the whole scheme.
In circular letter dated at Sacramento
December 26, 1890, he says:
"DEAR SIR: In reply 10 your late inquiry
concerning the publication OF school text
books by the State of California, have had
so many similar inquiries from YOUR own
and other States, that / have concluded 70
make general statement in regard 10 the
practical results of our experiments in State
publication of text books.
For over four years this plan has had a
fair and impartial trial in our State. |
came into Office a believer in the project,
and every aid which ] could give to its sue
cessful issue mas been freely rendered
throughout my administration.
But now in the light of my experience, !
must acknowledge that the results have
not met my expectations.
In the first place the expense has been
great-over four hundred thousand dollars
having been appropriated thus far for the
compilation of the series and the manufac-
ture of the first $4,000 copies of each book.
Ten books have so far been issued and three
more are vet to come TO complete Iull
series as required by our law
Whatever may be the advantages claim
ed for State publication by believers in a
paternal plan of government, the result Of
the experiment in our State, shows that il
cost the State more TO manufacture the
books than it would cost private publish
ing house-for obvious reasons. Besides
this, there is, in State series. lack Of
spontaneity and competition in authorship.
OWhen the State Board employs an author
OF compiler, it must accept and pay for his
work whether it is suitable or not. And
the supervision and compilation of the Sc
ries of school books by State Board
whose memberships are subject TO frequent
changes and who arc already burdened with
other duties, is attended with difficulties.
While our State Board has been jealous
and done the best it could in making State
series, / regret that its efforts have not met
the requirements of the schools or the ex-
pcctatiOns of our leading educators, as
shown by the following resolution adopted
at the Biennial Convention of California
School Superntcndents, held DeceIn Der I'd
and Sd, 1890:
'Rosolred, That while certain of the State
text books, notably the Primary Language
Lessons, and the Elementary Geography
have net the approval Of the public school
teachers of the State, we desire to record
our severe criticism and disapproval of 9TH
ers of the State series, and express our
Judgment that their thorough revision by
competent authors, so as TO adapt them to
the wants of the schools, is imperative and
should be entered upon at once.
In the light of our experience after four
wears of trial. am therefore compelled,
with personal reluctance, 10 acknowledge
TO the comparative want OF success in our
California experiment in making and pub
fishing school books Taking into consid-
Grafton the large appropriations made, and
the further and constant outlays for revls-
ions, new plates, &c, the same number of
books can be purchased in the open market
at wholesale prices for less than it costs
the Oldlt 10 y
| am therefore constrained to admit that
would not advise any other State to enter
upon the publication of school books.
Very truly yours,
Il.A G. HOUT,
Superintendent Public Instruction.
We have noticed the action of California
somewhat at length for the reason thai It
is the only State that has attempted 10
carry through the plan of State publication
and uniformity with frankness, and where
the plan, tOuse Superintendent HOitt's Ian
guage, has had a fair and impartial trial
In the adoption of school books two
things should be considered, -cheapness
and excellence. All will agree that the
latter should never be sacrificed to the
former. for il is greatly more important
that a cook should be good than IL should
be cheap OF course the two qualities
should be combined as far as practicable,
But the question remains whether State
authorship and State publication Is the
best way of securing such union. y good
textbook is thing of growth The wisest
of men have again and again made serious
mistakes in their efforts to make text
books. even in their own specialties, and
their productions have fallen still
born from the press The final test of
textbook is its use in the school room. To
purchase the manuscript of a book with
the unavoidable uncertainty as to what its
practical merits may prove to be, adopt II
as the textbook for the whole State, and
compel school authorities TO use it in
their schools exclusively for Sc
ries OF years, whether they ike
il or not, or whether it proves
success or not, seems neither in conformity
with the spirit of our institutions nor with
the best interests of popular education
Local self-government is the underlying
principle of all the school legislation of our
State. Great and varied powers are placed
in the hands of our local Boards of Educa-
ton. and with entire safety from abuse, as
such Boards are directly responsible to the
people who elect them. We are confident,
therefore, that no law will be acceptable TO
these Boards that takes from them all
voice in the selection of the textbooks TO
be used in their respective schools,-and
this for the reason that books well adapted
to the wants Of one community may be far
from the best for community differently
situated.
NUMBER AND COST or TENT BOOKS.
The following is the closest approXima-
tion we have been able 20 make OF the num-
her of text books in the common branches
necessary TO supply all the pupils studying
these branches with new books. The cost
has been estimated on the books most gen
erall used in the schools at twenty per
cent discount from the wholesale list prices
of the publishers:
NUMBER. CosT
Sprr1rxc BOOKS. 100000 at .13 SIS, 600
Rr,nrps-First 115.OOO " .l3 22,750
Second 100000 "a $4,000
Third l25,OOO 30 fl go
Fourth. 100000 40 10000
Fifth 10000 81 5l,300
sixth $4,000 " IS $1,000