The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-12-14
SELECTION OF TEXT BOOKS.

At this time there is perhaps no public
matter receiving more general consider
alton than that of the. selection of school
text books. In fact, it is subject of
vital importance to the state, the schools
and the patrons; and it behooves every
citizen to interest himself in the matter.
Since Oregon became state, there has
never been such need for economy on all
! lines as at the present ; and this is the
first consideration that enters into the
selection of text books. Men of affairs
realize that a change, even in one series
| of books, will result in an additional ex-
pense, and, unless it is absolutely essen
| tial for the advancement of the school
interests, no change should be thought
| of for moment There are those who
| say that the books now in use are ''pal-
pably Inferior" and that change will
| cost nothing while some even go SO far
as to actually claim that change would
result in saving. OF course, those
| familiar with the circumstances under
stand that these statements will not he
borne ont by the candid facts They also
understand such misleading declarations
ec1larate form representatives. of publish
ing houses, whose business interests will
| be materially effected by the result of the
| election now pending.
| School books cost money, and publish
ers are not coming into the state and
presenting, free of charge, to every pu
Pill il it complete course of books; al
i though some people seem inlbued with
! that idea. There is an exchange price in
each instance, which must not be lost
sight OF. For instance, we take for ex-
| ample the cost of arithmetics on exchange
for Benton county, and we find the addi-
t1oral expense to school patrons will be
from SI95 to $40, according to the series
adopted. Inthis connection it must not
be forgotten that the exchange period
continues only for sig months, irnmedi-
ately following the Ist of October, 1895,
and that during that time many of the
schools will not be In session, which fact
will prevent the children from taking
advantage of exchange rates; while a
multitude of pupils will be compelled to
pay full retail prices. Besides, it will
require considerable time for both teacher
| and pupils to adapt themselves to the
new course of study, and less effective
work would be accomplished by the
schools during such period. The school
law provides that whenever a book is
found to be too high in price, or excelled
by more recent publication, change
can be had at once. AS this measure has
not been resorted to during the life of
! the present contract, it is a fair presump-
ton that the books now in use are not
inferior in quality, nor higher in price
than other publications.
As the matter presents itself, it is plain
10 be seen that those who are clamnor-
ing most loudly for change, are those
VINO are personally and pecuniarily in
terested in attaining sucn an expensive
aud uncalled for result. Those who have
the r;atter in hand viii conscieutious1y
look over the present course of study,
and decide for themselves what, if any,
changes are demanded. They will then
iinvestigate the relative merits Of other