The record-union., 1892-12-13
THE TEXTBOOK DEBATE.

Our esteemed contemporary, the Bee,
hopes that the RECoRD-U UNION will CON
tinue its questions concerning the State
school books. 1t will; it intends that
there shall be no concealments. 1t is a
friend of the system, and believes in it.
But the remarks to which our contem-
porary refers as uttered by the RECORD
UNION relate wholly to the folly of as
saulting the editor of the books, for the
simple reason-and we hope our neigh
Dor will be able to grasp the statement
that the editor is not the author of the
books. He did get out one book, we
yesterday learned at the Capitol-the Ele-
mentary Geography, and on all sides, in
all quarters, by all authorities, that book
is conceded to be without objection, the
neatest, best, and all around most salts
factory Of Biographies ever used in this
State. Observe, this is not our statement,
but that of educators all over the State.
Now the RECORD UNION is neither de-
fender nor apologist tor the editor of the
books; he has asked nothing of US, or, so
far as we can learn, of any one. He prob
ably thinks he can pull his own oars.
We condemn his policy of quiescence un-
der assault. But let common Justice be
done; let our contemporary do as the
RECoRD-UNIoN has done, examine be-
fore it judges, and it will discover what
we did, that the work of the editor has
been conscientious, faithful, even enthusi-
astic work; also that it is absolutely nee
essary work; work that someone must
do. That someone must be an expert
enced man in school-book work; there
can be no experience without service, and
the only service possible in the United
States has been in private publishing
houses.
This is true also of every author
of school books in the land and of every
editor of school books. If California
sends East for authors and editors, and
gets approved men only, it will secure
only those who have served under pri-
vate publishers. To simply condemn
work because the worker, though the en-
thusiastic friend of the State system,
years ago learned his art under employ
ment now antagonisdc to the State work,
is foolish.
The test of worth is its accomplishment
The state Printing Office officials declare
that the EDITORS work in question is skill
full, well done, honest; the work itself, as
our contemporary can see if it Will ex-
anime it, tells its own story.
No, let our neighbor forego its mistake
this one ume-and it is mistake-and
itself examine and it will find that the
whole error of administration has been
with the State Boards of Education; that
half the complaints against the series are
pure fiction; the other half equally
chargeable to any other series of text
books, saving only minor details as to
one book, and excepting the reader,
grammar and arithmetic. That these
need revision is admitted. But so have
the rings book series been revised over
and over again.
1t was mistake, a bad one, to appro-
pirate a pitiful sum for authorship: it
was mistake not to secure the best and
most experienced school-book author
ship, for the making of textbooks for
schools is a distinct science, in which
only the few are skilled.
Our contemporary knows, perhaps,
that the readers were presented to the
State out of hand: bundled over to it and
accepted as job lot, gratis, from one