Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-13

This il "a sos SC less than the school board S
estimate for the same grades and still leaves
the seventh and igkth grades and Hlgn SCHOOLS
unprovided for.
We earnestly protest against this policy and
urge the appropriation of the full amount OF
the school boards estimates, viz, SS5,OOO- We
submit the following facts for your considera-
ton:
ECONOMY.
At public expense the books for tie grades
omitted by the Commissioners Seventh, eighth
and High Schools can be procured at whole
sale rates for s45,5l743, and will last on the
average three years, an average annual cost TO
the public of bat sis, 1724S- At retail rates the
books will cost parents of pupils S56.o TIC and
must all be purchased each year, because a
book carries a pupil only through one year or
grade and can be used no longer. Thus the
books can be purchased at public expense for
ell. 72i.63 less than the average annual cost by
private purchase. In other words. taking the
life of book at three years (Which Is proved
by experience in Philadelphia, New York, Bal-
timore Boston and elsewhere), the public can
purchase for S4j.5l1.43 what will cost parents
Sl70.69l.4S. The false economy OF the Com
missioners is apparent
ATTENDANCE.
Where the free text book.systems have been
adopted attendance has been thereby increased
over 10 per cent, the increase being notably
in the higher grades. In our own schools 20
per cent drop out before entering the seventh
year or grade. 20 per cent before the eighth
grade. and 10 per cent before reaching the
High School The books at retail cost Tor
the seventh grade 1855. for tire eighth grade
S6-s2. and for the High School $500 per
scholar per year. This great expense for
books meets the pupils at the age OF fourteen
TO sixteen. when the temptation to leave
school for employment is strong, and Is sutfi-
cient to determine the issue against the school
IN great number OF cases. Out OF some 1000
than fifty can be found whose parents
are mechanics and laborers- After the sixth
grade few except children of government en-
ployes. professional and business men can con-
tinue in school The working people whom we
represent are anxious to have the bar TO edu-
cation which the great cost of books interposes
removed ct once. Even II the CommissioEt rs
policy Of dragging the completion of the free
text book system through several years were
economical instead of extravagant, We protest
against economy practiced at the expense of
the school years OF the children. whose oppor-
tunities once lost can never be regalned- The
expenditures on streets and public works out
side of the city and in advance OF real public
needs should be postponed If necessary, and
the sum Of $4,000 be used TO make our
schools free IN fact wei. as in name. Every
dollar that is needed for education should be
appropriated first. and what is left should go to
other public uses in the order Of their impor-
lance.
The policy Of free books has been adopted.
The Commissioners propose to limit it for the
next year to the first six grades. We urge that
all should be treated alike.
QUALITY OF BOOKS
The text books in use are printed on the ro!-
tenest Of paper and are bound in the fiimsiest
o. boards, and for these pay abominable
prices. individual purchasers are helpless, but
when the District of Columbia is the sole pur-
chaser, TO the amount of some $50, 900 per an
mum. it can exact concessions in the way OF
prices and quality equal in value to one-half
the annual expense.
CONCLUSION.
After the expenditure Of SIS, 600 to complete
the system IN annual expenditure of $4,000
will provide for the increase il attendance and
the replacement Of WORKOUT books Therefore,
in the interest of economy. the relief of people
OF small incomes. increased attendance, saving
Of the school years of children, equality Of
patrons OF the schools power in dealing with
the school book monopoly and general I'M
provement in the schools, we ask that the sys-
ten be completed at once.
We call particular attention TO the arguments
and facts which we submitted TO your commit
tee last year on this subject and which are now
On file with the committees records. Inclosed
arc lists OF books in use and the retail prices.