Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-12-11
WHY A CHANGE IN TExTBOOKs'

of the schools nothing, as old books
can be exchanged for new, at rate
ranging all the way from an even ex-
change to about One-third the retail
price. Que professor even goes 80 far as
t. say that If every book in the state
were to be changed, nobody would lose
a cent. He furnishes no proof to sup
o lrt this remarkable statement, except
that he counts iu 1.-The superior value of
new books to second. hand" This one
may figure as high as his Imagination
or interests will reach. educational
tie Importance TO the gentleman who
sstms 80 bent on change that he has
given the entire state the benefit of his
wide experience in the way Of sugges-
tions and advice which probably orig
inated IN the fertile brain of the agents
of one or more publishing houses who
are in the state for just that purpose,
that is, to find some pliable tool to
further their ends.
Let us examine these propositions a
little Whether the change of any
books at all is desirable or not we do
u ut profess to be able, as some people
who are not and never were school
teachers assume to be, to Judge. But
it is certain that the leading and
strongest pleas for change comes
from interested If not incompetent
sources, and is contradlcted by some Of
the best and most trust worthy educa-
tors Of the state. Some, at least, of
tn ,se who urge the change Of few
books, just few, expect to make this
the entering wedge for the change Of
great many or nearly all, and letters
written to number of pels ms in the
state would indicate that one gentle
man was very much at sea as to just
what be did want, and had but little If
any knowledge of the subject under
discussion.
But to return to the more important
matter of cost, the reasoning Tor the
change advocated is entirely untenable.
Even the professor quoted admits that
the cost Will be about one-third the re-
tail price of the new books. This
might amount to considerable to poor
man with "long" family; but this
exchange proposition is only bait.
The one third price for exchange is
only the worm that the sucker swal-
lows. In the first place. the exchange"
is limited to very short period of
time, and only can be made at certain
designated points ia the state, two or
three, in each county. Many of the
schools will not even be in session dur
ing this period Of exchange, and multi
tudes Of children will not be able to
avail themselves Of it, and we haye in
mind our experience here Of five years
ago, and the general dissatisfaction
caused by a change Of books at that
time, and do we want repetition Of
that now at time when 30 many OF our
people are looking for the means to pay
the daily expenses Of their families for
the necessarles Of life? No, the fact is,
that II any changes are made at all,
the books will be bought Ia most cases
at the full price, and the people do not
get anything for nothing, here or else
where.
Public sentiment In this state IL
strongly against these proposed
changes, aud those who have the trust
IN charge should be mindful Of the
peoples wishes. The simple fact Ii
that wa baye good schools IN Oregon,
aud that they compare fayorably with
those of other states on the Pacific
coast That the books used IN our
schools are good stands 10 reason, for
good books are just ~ essential 10 the
teacher ~ good tools are 20 the me-
obaniei therefore, any material change
will NOT be materially beneficial TO our
school system, bot on the other hand
VIII be a heavy eEpense % the parents
Of oar school children, Many u them
are poor and cannot afford this eKtTa
espense, and none of them should DO
obliged 10 incur a. Port |