The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-12-18
those Text Books.

BDIS title on your editorial page: NO
Time to Swap Horses"
Notwithstanding the warm support
which the good editor of THE CHRONICLE
has given me in my school work, and
the many kind things which he has said
for and about me, I cannot help but
take issues with him In the general sem
timent expressed in the above-referred-
to article. The sentiment IS, in effect,
that no change should be made in the
present series of text books used in the
common schools of this state. If there
is no need of change nolO in some of
the school books used in this state, may
ask when there ever will be need of
change? If these. books are good enough
for the pupils and teachers of the schools
of Oregon for the present and for the
next six years, they are good enough
for all eternity, and by all means let the
state board of education enter into
contract with the publishers to that
effect. To re-adopt the present series
of books in use in the state is to handi-
cap every progressive teacher in the
state, and infict a wrong on every
pupil in our public schools. will go
step further and say that the re-adop-
ton of the present series of text books
will in many instances result in many of
our pupils leaving our schools with
very imperfect knowledge of the branches
studied. In fact the pupils are the in
jured parties directly, and indirectly the
parents of those pupils.
Let us draw homely illustration
Suppose farmer to be feeding stock for
market and profit. After he has been
feeding his stock for some time, he finds
they are not thriving, and on investigat-
ing he finds the food is at fault. Would
not that farmer be exceedingly unwise
If he did not at once substitute a differ
ent kind of food, even though the sub
stituted food cost trifle more? If this
illustration is just and applicable to
dumb brutes and the money-getting
it be true with regard to the mental
food which is given our bright boys and
girls of this state. You, kind Editor,
are doing your own bright lad an injus-
Sice when you argue for the retention of
certain of these books, or else you heap
on his teacher the task of supplying sup
Elementary work for him in order that
the Effectiveness of the text book may
be bridged over. And heaven knows
the teacher who has any pride in his
echool-work can find enough to do in the
supplementary work line, even with the
best of text books, without having to
make up for defective or antiquated
text.
You argue, Mr.. Editor, that hard
times and the financial interests of par
ents demand the retention of these
present books. That is good and kind
in you, and 1 presume parents thank
you for it; but then, you must remem-
Dor, in the words of the New Testament,
''The poor we have with US always"
and it is hardly fair to presume that the
present financial stringency will remain
with us for the next six years; whereas
if this present series of books is re-adopt-
ed, we are ''into it'' for another six
years. Moreover, as I am informed, the
bids of different publishing houses run
all the way from an even exchange to
about one-third the retail price of the
present books in use. This being the
case, cannot see that it will be a very
grievous burden to the parents. Be-
sides, parents have from January lst
prox. to next October to provide for this
change. And as regards the man with
a large family, referred to in the before
mentioned article, it often happens that
a majority of the said family are in the
lower grades of school, where the books
used are fewest and least expensive.
As for the editorial sentiment ex-
pressed by the newspapers, backed up
by testimonials of teachers, school
officers and parents, must take issue
with that sentiment. Perhaps this last
may appear like self-conceit or bigotry,
but hold that my simile is not over
drawn when say that I might just as
properly step into the editorial rooms of
the aforesaid newspapers and dictate to
the editor what were good for him to
speak of in his editorial columns, or to
go to the homes of the said parents and
direct them as to the best manner of
conducting their domestic affairs; say
it would be quite as proper as for those
persons to dictate to the teacher which
are good text books and which are bad
ones. The workman is the best Judge
of his tools. There is one person before