The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-29
SCHOOL-B00K CHARGES
REFUTED BY THE GOVERN0R AND
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
A Detailed Statement yindicating Their
PositIon-saperintsnde masseyto
Take Other Measures.

Hon. John f.. Massey. Superintendent
OF Public instruction, called on the Gov
ernor yesterday morning and had another
conference in regard TO the charges
brought by the Norfolk Pilot against the
members OF the state Board OF Education.
! The Governor also had another confer
ence with the Attorney-General on the
subject and they agreed upon state
ment II the public IN reply TO the charges
made by the newspaper In question. The
| statement which was later ia the day
! given out for publication. IS signed by
| Governor O'Ferrall and Attorney-General
Scott. while Mr.. Massey expects 10 pro-
coed in a different way. The document
! reads as follows:
A CARD.
In the pilot" a newspaper published
| in the city OF Norfolk. Sunday, December
| -. 1894, appeared an article with these
! headlines:
'The American Book Trust and how
| IL operates in Virginia
'"fhe amazing story OF the circum-
stances attending the adoption Of the
| Trusts books.
'The relation Of state Superintendent
Massey 10 the big monopoly
FINANCIAL facts tor the calculators
! Of curious Incidents
No name Is signed TO this article; tho
| editor, therefore. vOuches for the truth
! and accuracy Of its statements.
70 so much Of the article as relates 20
! them the undersigned make reply that
! those whose votes placed them In the
| high and responsible places they now
| occupy may judge between them ana
| their unknown accuser.
| This article charges that the public
school book list for 1894 was adopted
| by the Board Of Education with indc-
cent and unseemly haste and OF the
previous book list $500 says: The star
! chamber list Of March 9th was revised
| and the last Of May or the first of June
1890. the University books were put
back.
THE FAcTs.
The Board OF Education met on the
| 18th day Of March. 1884, at the Office of
! the Superintendent OF Public instruction.
! When this board met 10 perform like
! duty in ISL It's meeting was held On
| the 9th day of February; 1878. I'm June :
| 1852. March 18th; 1856, May 18th; 1sD
| March 10Th and June Ith.
| OF these seven O. meetings three were
| held in March, one in February, one In
| May. and one IN June.
The 1890 book-llst was adopted Marct
! 10Th and June 4th.
| can the most sensitive and fastidous
| properly apply the articles strong Ian
| guage TO either boardf
IT,, article says there must be an in
! vestigation. Not an investigation by a
committee appointed by the Governor
because such a committee must neces.
| sariiy pass upon the Governors official
negligence, to say the least of it,
HOW THE BOARD DOES ITS WORK.
The construction placed upon the Con-
! stitution by the board, composed Of Gov
! ernCr Lee, superintendent Buchanan,
! and Attorney General Ayers was this:
| There can be but one book-list
| Every four years list Is adopted.
| School superlutendents for cities ana
| counties were called upon TO express to
| the board their, views, offer suggestions,
! substance Of these reports 10 the present
| board is as follows, viz:
| Accomac County: Generally satisfac-
| tory. No special changes desired.
Albemarle. satisfactory; no change de-
Alexandria County: Satisfactory.
! Allegheny: Some dissatisfaction with
Amelia: Satisfactory; no change de-
| sired.
amherst: No changes desired.
| Appomatox No reply
Bath Holmes History and readers
Will probably be changed.
Bedford. Generally satisfactory.
! changes not wanted
! Bland: Satisfactory; no changes de-
Botetourt: Satisfactory. except Holmes
/ History. 10th So make any change On
BrGnswitk: no change desired may
| probably introduce Barncs History.
Buchanan. 40 changes wanted.
Buckingham: Generally satisfactory.
Campbell: Some dissatisfaction with
| Maury's Geography and HarVey's Gram
! mar; do not think dissatisfaction suih-
| Cient TO change.
| Caroline. Satisfactory.
| Carroll: Swinton's Grammar and
| Holmes readers and spoilers not salts
! Charles city: Satisfactory; no changes
Charlotte. Objection to Worcesters Die
! tionary and TO Holmes History and Har-
! vey's Grammar; not enough to JUSTIFY
chesterfield: Objection to Holmes His
| tory and Nenablc's Arithmetic.
Clarke: Giving general satisfaction.
Craig: satisfactory
! Culpeper; All not giving satisfaction;
| few changes should be made; people op-
| posed 10 Cnauge
Cumberland. ThaIhcimers History not
| satisfactory.
DanviIIe: Giving general satisfaction.
Dickinson: Giving sae.s4action.
DinWiddie: No reply.
| Elizabeth city. With the exception OF
| Harvey's Grammar, no change desired.
Essex Giving general satisfaction.
Fairfax: No changes desired.
FauQier. Satisfactory as a whole.
Floyd. Would not advise change.
Fluvanna: Giving general satisfaction;
some objection TO Holmes Grammar.
Franklin: Giving satisfaction as a RUE;
! some few changes desired.
Frederick. Giving general satisfaction.
Giles: Giving satisfaction.
Gloucester: No change desired except
| Holmes History.
Gravson: No change desired.
Greene. Satisfactory except as to Non
| teith's Geography and 1ndlheimcrs His
ton
Halifax: List as a whole good Holmes
History and Davies and Peck Arith-
metic receive more adverse criticism IMAM
any other books ON the ISL.
Henry: No objection 10 books; great OBJ
lection 10 any change.
Highland: Objection 10 Davies ana Peck
Ari n1netic. Swintons Grammar. Holmes
history and Maury's Geography
isle of Wight: Giving perfect sallsldc-
ton.
klng and queen; Giving general salts
King George: Some objection to Har-
Vev's Grammar. books now in use good.
King " liam: Objection to McGuitey s
anu Holmes Spoilers, Holmes History
and Harvey's Grammar.
Lancaster: No changes desired.
Lee. objection to Nenables Arithmetic
and Johannot & Boutons Lessons IN
i6udoun: County board opposed to
changes; objection 10 Davies and Pee.
ArithmeticS and Johdniol " bOuloh Les
sons in Hygiene.
louisa. Some objection 10 Nenable's
two-book series of arithmeticS.
Iunenburg: No wish for change.
INnchburg: McGuffey's First. Second
and Third Readers and Spencerian copy
books giving good satisfaction; teachers
emphatic in praise of MdXwells Gram
mars.
Madison. No complaint, times too hard
10 make changes even II desired.