The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-12-15
TIE SCHOOL BOOK QUESTION

A question of great Importance to
all citizens, because it relates to the
public schools, is that of the change
or retention of the present textbooks.
This will soon be decided by a vote of
the school superintendsn!s of the state,
and the decision will settle the matter
for the next five years, One impor-
tant phase to every question during
these times of financial depression is
that of economy, and change of the
present textbooks would incur an ex-
pense on those the least able to bear
the burden. The object of the public
schools is to furnish the means of
education to those not pecuniarily able
to avail themselves of private tutors
or of institutions not supported by the
state, and an education is absolutely
necessary to citizenship. If the per-
petuity of free institutions is desired
every person should fit himself or her
self for citizenship by such training
of the mental faculties as would give
Shlm or her an intelligent understand
klng of the duties implied. The poor
est as well as the richest must bear
their burdens of government, and each
has an equal interest in the just and
proper administration of affairs.
While the public schools are free to
all. yet every unnecessary expense to
the children of poor parents who at
tend them should be cur.ailed. 1t
may be true that the change in text
hooks, to those In cities. might not in
cur but little additional expense, be-
cause they could exchanges their old
ones for hew ones within the required
time; but IN isolated districts, where
the school is long dietance from
many inhabitants, the time would in
many instances have expired before
the facts would have been made
known. This is on the presumption
that the American Book Company, if
a change is decreed, will allow the old
books-not torn or otherwise injured
to be exchanged for the new ones
within given time. In many in
stances furnishing the necessary books
for pupils is heavy tax on poor par
ents, and if they are forced to do this
every few years at the caprice of some
publishing house that 1t is simply look
ing for business, becomes a grevious
burden. It would be q movement
in the right direction if the state fur
nished the text books to those not able
to purchase them, and this would be
the means of making our present school
system more generally beneficial than
1t is at present. The public schools
are primarily for the poorest of our
citizens, and they should be made as
Inexpensive as possible.
Another matter which is an argu-l
ment against change being made in
school books, is that the pupils are
familiar with those now in use, and
are therefore in better condition to
gain the information impaired in the
different branches. New books will
almost necessarily have q different ar
rangement of rules or methods. and
while the principles remain unchange-
able, yet the manner in which they
are stated or arranged, to the unde-
veloped mind Of the young pupil. may
require an extra effort before he be-
comes familiar with them as to be
able to master them. The road to
kno xlsdge should be royal one, and
free from every obstacle. 1t SHOULD
be made pleasing and agreeable, es-
peciallY to the young, who do not
fully comprehend the benefits to be
derived therefrop, and are naturally |
sverse to anything that has the ele-
ments of hardship or labor connected
Herewith.
1t is to be hoped that the text |
books now in use will not he changed,
and that the school superintendents
will consult the best interests of the
people for whom the public schools
were instituted before casting their
votes. 1t is time for economy in
public and private affairs, and the
pupils are familiar with the books now
in use and should not be compelled to
use an extra effort to learn the meth
ods in the new ones.