The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-12-15
WHY a Change in Text Books,


The plea is made that the change of al
least few school books is desirable
that some of those now in use are pal
pably INFERIOR" and that after all, the
change desired will cost the patrons OF
the schools nothing, as old books can be
exchanged for new, at a rate ranging all
the way from an even exchange to about
one-third the retail price. One professor
even goes SO far as to say that if every
book IN the state were to be changed
nobody would lose a ce It. He furnishes
no irroof to support this remar able
statement, except that he counts in
"the superior value of new books to sec
ond-hand." This one may figur as
high as his imagination or interests will
reach. Educational merit of books
would seem to be f little Importance to
the gentleman who seems so bent on a
change that he has given the entire ate
the benefit of his wide experience in the
way of suggestions and advice which
probably originated 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 ex xamiDe these propositions a
little. Whether the change of any books
at all is desirable or not we do net pro
fess to be able, as some people who are
not and never were school teachers as
sumo to be, to judge. But it is certain
that the leading and strongest pleas for
a change comes from intrestei if not in
competent sources, and is contradicted |
by some of the best and most trust
worthy educators OF the state Some, |
at least, of those who urge the change |
of few book, just few, expect to make |
this the entering wedge for the change |
of great many or nearly all, and letters
written to number of persons in the |
state would indicate that one gentleman
was very much at sea as to just what he
did want, and had but little if any
knowledge of the su ject under discus
sion
But to return to the more importan;
matter of cost, the reasoning for 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 a poor man
with ''leng" family; but this exchange
is only bait. The one
third price for exchange is only the
worm that the sucker swallows. In the
irst place. the exchange" is limited to
| very short period of time, and only
,an be made at certain designated points
II the state, two or three, say, in each
county. Many of the schools will not
wen be in session during this period of
exchange, and multitudes of children
will not be able to avail themselves OF
t, and we have in mind our experience
lere of five years ago, and the general
cansed by change of
looks at that time, and do we want
epetition of that now at time when
o many OF our people are looking for the
means to pay the daily expenses of their
antilles for the necessaries of life. No,
he fact is, that if any changes are made
t ali, the books will be boug hit in most
ases at the full price, and the people
o not get anything for nothing, here or
lsewhere. q
Public sentiment in this state is strong
Y against these proposed changes, and q
hose who have the trust in charge should
e mindful of the peoples wishes. The
imple fact Is that we have good schools
! Oregon, and that they compare favor.
Lly with other states ON the Pacific coast
hat the books used in our schools are
ood. stands to reason for good books are
lst as essential to the teacher as good
,ols are to the mechanic; therefore, any
lateral change will not be materially
enefcIal to our school system, but on ,
he other hand will be heavy expense to
lie parents of our school children. Many
them are poor and cannot afford this
xira expense, and none of them should
e needlessly Obliged to incur it.