The record-union., 1892-09-30
PROTECTING STATE BOOKS.
Report of the City Board of Educa-
TONS Committee. 4
Outside Books Barred Out of the
Schools-A Change at the
High School.

| d
quorum did not put in an appearance.
The meeting had been called for the
purpose Of hearing the report of the
Committee on Course of Study. Chair
man Erlewine and Director Davis of the
committee were present with the report.
The latter was examined in an informal
way by those present, and while they eX-
pressed themselves in favor of it and pre-
dicted that the balance Of the members
would, yet no official action could be
taken.
Another meeting was called for to-
morrow, as it is DESTROYS that the report
| should go into effect Monday, when the
| schools open.
| STANDS BY THE STATE BOOKS.
The committee prefaces its report with
a stanch defense of the state textbooks
ana declares against the attempts to work
into the course of study auxiliary books.
The committee says:
our committee reports that it has
taken as advisory the Judgment of the
PRINCIPALS of each grade in the public
schools. and from their reports and after
due consideration, recommend as fol-
lows, lii appendix, as to what shall be the
course OF study III the public schools of
this city. 1t will be understood that the
question presented to your committee
hes been one perplexing, yet we feel that
| that which we present Will be Of Justice
to the pupils.
incidentally we recommend there
should be an expression from this board
that it will not in the least degree open
the door TO an attack upon the system of
the publication of textbooks by the
State. There can be no installing the
VIII of the people, when the constitu-
llonal amendment was passed, directing
the Legislature to provide for the COM
pliation and publication of textbooks by
the State; there was not "a murmur from
the people when the Legislature passed
enabling Acts granting
MUNIFICENT APPROPRIATIONS
For such compilation and publication.
| 1t has been urged that in other cities in
California, educational boards have in
| troduced into their schools auxiliary
! textbooks; and that has been suggested
as precedent. If precedent is to be
! made, we recommend it should come
| from this board, SO far as it is alone con-
| cerned. We stand responsive to our con-
sciences, and to a constituency that has
reposed in us the most delicate govern
mental power: the control of the educa-
ton OF our youth. We feel it due to the
people of this community that it should
be understood definitely that the Board
Of Education of this city will steadfastly
|
department. any textbooks other than
those published by the State. 1t has
been urged that injustice will he done to
our pupils; that we will not authorize
the purchase OF auxiliary textbooks by
them; yet there Is a matter to be consid-
cred that is overshadowing: Can it be
that we will be a party to the thwarting
of the expressed will of the people upon
so important question as that OF the
State publlcatlon OF our public school
| textbooks?
eve recommend that this board will,
| by no act, be party TO blow at the
State system OF textbooks, and that in
nowise viii it be considered that our opin-
ion will be governed in that regard by the
| precedent OF any other educational board.
Therefore, we have stricken from the
course OF study suggested to us all auxili-
airy works. and have confined the course
to the State SERIES"
| CHANGE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Then the committee proceeds with it's
regular recommendation of what books
shall be used in the various grades, Civ
ing complete lists.
The committee makes recommends
ton that will be Of great importance to
students entering the high school. 1t
suggests that there be a four-year course
and three-year course there. AT pres
ent (and for years back there is but a
three-year course. Principals and teach
ers have frequently complained that there
were many pupils who could not master
the various studies in that time OF
course there were many who could. But
children are not all alike-some are slow
to learn, while others are quick. The
latter finish their studies in the pre-
scribed term, while the others, though
they are compelled to finish in that time,
really do not leave the school as compe-
tent as they should, and they more fire.
quently miss their promotions. The
committee now suggests that the two
terms, as proposed, will remedy the evil
1t will afford the opportunity to those
who require longer course that they
have long desired.
NOT AN ENEMY TO THE LAWS,
During the informal discussion among
the directors over the committees re-
port, Superintendent of Schools, Albert
Hart, took occasion to reply to an item
published IN an evening paper, in which
the superintendent was reported to be
an enemy 10 the State school books. Mr.
Hart declared emphatically that not only
was he not opposed to the series, but, on
the contrary, he had always been an en-
thusiastic friend TO it. He had urged the
passage of the bill which established the
State books and was proud OF them now.
But he had always contended that one
reader was not enough for a pupil
during one term. The reading to and by
pupils should be more diversified. There
fore he recommended the use of supple
mental readers. The State readers were
as good as any published; that was not
the point; they, like any one other reader,
did not
GIVE THE PUPIL THE SCOPE
That ne was capable of reaching. His
idea had always been that cheap paper
| bound books containing poems and prose
by standard writers, be used by the pupils
in addition to the textbook. He eSpeci-
ally recommended the Riverside SERIES"
| which cost Is cents a piece, and two
| would do for whole term. He believed
he said, in cultivatlng taste for good
reading, as it was a protection against
much that was harmful, and created an
appetite for much that was beneficial. He
had experimental and had had excellent
results Children who We're permitted
and encouraged to read interesting stories,
poems and essays, showed to much better
advantage than did those who had not.
Director Erlewine did not believe in
even letting in the supplementary read
ers, he said. Once the door was open,
there would be constant efforts to work
in this or that reader, and the same old
trouble would continue. The best way
was to shut them out, as the committee
recommended.
COLUMBUS DAY.
The discussion was interrupted by the
entrance of Comrades Dodge, Cooley and
Jones of the three Grand Army posts.
They wanted to know what the board
had done regarding the preparations for
the approaching celebration of the four
hundredth anniversary of the discovery
of America. The O.. A. II. posts had been
} waiting patiently for the board to notify
them if they wanted them to participate,
and if so where they were to be assigned.
But what the veterans wanted to know