The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-02-24
FREE TEXT BOOKS.
Superintendent kenastOn Advances
Some Able Arguments in
Their Favor.

Superintendent Kenaston was asked
Friday by FREE PRESS reporter to
state his views upon the proposed
free text book law, as being a matter
of general interest and Importance.
He replied:
"Yes, after long and careful con-
sideratioL of the matter Il believe
most firmly in free text books in the
schools. There is always delay and
waste of time in starting and bring
ing up many schools and classes be-
cause so many parents are Indifferent
or slow about furnishing books for
their children. Waste of time from
this causes great detriment to many
schools. To my own knowledge, many
pupils are kept from school because
parents cannot or do notfurnish books
for their children. The work of many
grades suffers because teachers can
not secure supply Of books Of variety
and adapted to the needs Of their
children. TO save expense, books out
of date or of too low or too high grade
are put into the hands Of children. A
weakness in many country schools is
found in the fact that children have
so great a variety of books old and
new that they cannot be classified.
BY this scheme the books would be at
hand, uniform, modern and cared for.
'We seriously need new set Of read
ers but do hate TO ask the children
to purchase new books, has been said
to me several times recently by good
teachers. Then followed good reasons
for hesitating to ask pupils to buy. A
few sets owned by the schools would
supply many grades and classes Of
pupils. and make the schools more eff
ticient.
again, the public school is the
chief corner stone of our country. For
elevating society, for fitting for self
government, for developing in our
people love and appreciation of what
is highest, for making good citizens
from ignorant, diSSOluJe and indiffer-
ent homes, the school is the chief fac
tor. 1t takes children at the plastic
period and keeps at them with line
upon line, precept upon precept.' 1t
should be made SO free that no parent
could have any excuse for denying to
their children its blessings. The cost of
books is a hinderance to many who
need the schools the most. This him
derance should be taken away.
There is no one law that will bring
boon to SO many people 10 Minnesota
as free text book law. 1t will say
to the poor, to the hard pressed or in
different parent, to knowledge seek
ing childhood here is plenty of books
for you, use them This will be a
missionary act that will reach the
multitudes, philanthropic act that
comes when and where it will aid
most.
''As matter of economy it would
unQuestionably be great saving to
Mankato and this county. The
wealthy men of the state have gener-
Ously poured out their treasures for
the schools, planted and sustained for
everybody's children, and l believe
they would willingly and patriotically
take upon them ,their large proper
tion of this new burden. My know
ledge of the workings of a free text
book law in Indiana warrants my
faith in it's feasibility in this state.
"a free text book law passed by the
legislature would add new strength
and worth and equipment to the pub
lie schools. Money put into courts
and tine churches and public buildings
is well used, but put into training Of
the future citizens of our country is
dOubly well applied.
'''The Public SCHOOL, Oh let its light
Shine through our countrys story!
Here lies her wealth. her strength her might
Here rests her future glory"