The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-08
THE BOOK TRUST WINS.
The School Board Will Not Change the
Readers.

Ahe SchcOl lbOard W III NOT CnaDge the
Readers.
Superintendent Davidson made his re.
port to the city school board stating that
the condition of schools, organizations
and enrolment was splendid until the
diphtheria trouble.
Now" he said, "there are a large
number absent With the close of the
schools this evening there are
1925 pupils less than the enrolment of
the first week.
There are now under quarantine
twenty cases of diphtheria and five of
scarlet fever, as against the same num-
Der the first and second weeks The
cases have run about sixteen to twenty
four each week and have been sixty four
in number altogether
A petition from J. F. True of 1349
Mulvane street, who has children attend
ing the Harrison and high schools, ask
ing that the public schools be closed on
account of diphtheria prevalency was
laid on the table without discussion.
y communication was read from the
Trades & Labor Assembly, petitioning
the board to patronize home school text
books. This, upon motion, was placed
on file.
TIE ladies of the Baptist church sent
a communication inviting the board to
attend a farewell reception to Rev. j. B.
Thomas, October II, at the home of J, r.
Mulvane.
1t was unanimously decided to here
after open the high school at a. m. and
close at o'clock p. N.
The clerk of the high school was
abolished. Heretofore "a salary of $40
per month has been paid.
The various societies were given per-
mission to hold entertainments when the
superintendent and principal indorsed
them.
The vexed problem of a change of text
books was next called up and settled by
the following report presented by Mr..
Miller
"Whereas, This board of education.
without any expressed need on its own
part, has frequently been annoyed and
embarrassed by firms or their agents,
who would make sales to US of school
books, etc: therefore. be it
'-Resoived, l. That it shall be the fixed
policy of this board to consider matters
pertaining to any change of text books
or any Introduction of new books into
our schools ouly upon the united recon-
mendation of the superintendent and text
book committee.
so, That it is not deemed expedient nor
desirable to add expense to the patrons
OF our schools by any change of books or
any Introduction of new books at the
present time
50 That in the future we consider no
demands worthy the attention of this
board except such as are created within
our own forces. never those that come
from without"
Mr. Wilson objected to the report read
and desired to read a minority report,
but President Shaw called for vote on
the report submitted.
Those voting for the resolution were
Messrs. Miller, Priddy, Thomas, Squires,
Powell, Westerfield, Beck aud Shaw;
against, Messrs. Wilson and Macferran.
For some time the schools have been
using the American Book company's
(Trusts) AIcGu1fey'S readers, but a
strong effort has been made to supersede
them with the Excelsior readers issued
by George W. Crane s Co.
This action of the school board seems
to adjust the matter for some time, at
least.
George W. Crane Immediately sent
the following communication to the
board
TO the Board of Education:
GENTLEMEN:-lf it Is to be the policy
of your board to listen to propositions
looking to changes in text books only
after the demand comes from the teach
ers and superintendent then I submit
that it would be proper for you to de-
mand of your teachers and superintend-
ents that they at all times hold them
selves aloof from acting paid agents
of book publishers and thus be freed
from pref udices in regard to text books
and text book propositions"
This brought up a heated discussion.
Mr.. Wilson said this was true and men,
toned Mr. Mcbride as teacher who
had worked for the American Book COM
pany The matter WIS fiually referred
to the high school committee.
The resignation of Rev. Mr.. Thomas
was received and Edward Wilder Sc
lected as his successor.
A reduction of $4,000 insurance was
ordered on the various school buildings
and furniture The amount thus saved
il premiums Will be collected into a
fund and invested, and the interest used
to cover any extra loss from burning
buildings. The fund will be a con
stantly increasing one, and in a few
years the entire insurance may be
dropped.
The following resolution, introduced
by Rev. Mr.. Thomas, resulted in tie
vote, and was defeated by the chair:
Moved, That after the contracts of
the present school year terminate, that
the policy OF this board shall be to en-
ploy as teachers in our schools, no woman
who has an able bodied hus band, capable
of furnishing her support"