Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-01-10
FREE AND UNIFORM TEXT BOOKS.

Though the commonwealth of North
Dakota is young, yet a system of public
schools has been established, as abiding
and progressive as that of older states.
Men are not actuated solely by mercenary
motives in choosing homes for themselves
and families. That which contributes to
the development of morals and ntelli-
gence is always considered, and the efIici
ency Of the public schools of state is an
incentive ~ less than its farm resources.
But H." Sill JieCtS receive the careful
consideration and thorough investi cation
that those that pertain to the public
schools receive, for all regard this insttu-
tion as the promoter OF morality, patriot
ism and citizenship. That careful and
prudent consideration often amounting to
reluctance on the part of Il legislator when
considering measures pertaining to schools
is rather to be commended than con-
demned, for by his conservatism he pro-
tects the schools from Innovations.
Liberal expenditures for the support of
echools have always charact erized the peo-
pie OF this state. Now that the state is
furnishing no incousitjaraI,!a part of the
funds to maintain the %ehC ~ thereby re-
it is proper to consider The q iesti0n OF free
and uniform text books Nno money nee
essary to provide these "'o"ia be raised by
taxation. Nevertheless. it is u question of
economy. Ii each patron Of the public
school contributed to Il textbook fund
what he expends for school books in one
year, the amount so contributed would
furnish books for the use of an equal num-
Der Of pupils for u period of five years, and
the cost would be reduced in like ratio.
1t may be urged as an objection that
many would not contribute to the fund to
provide these books | am convinced that
the number thus mentioned would not be
greater than the number annually fur
nihed books by the various school officers
throughout the state. Such persons re-
qrlire books to he furnished yearly; the ex-
Ienditure, as suggested, would be suffi-
dent for a number of years.
Education being for the benefit of the
state and community, as well as for the
individual, it is expedient that those able
to contribute should do So but at the
same time as economically as possible
70 lessen the eNpcJn.e upon those possess
ing the means t> seA3port public schools,
those vast grants of public domain were
made to establish a permanent fund.
The right of suffrage has been extended
to some wEo perhaps are not able to use
it intelligently. It is too late to disfran-
chise them, and the only course to pursue
is to educate them and their successors.
In so doing they are educated for the in
terests and service OF the state.
Placirg free and uniform text books in
the pubie: schools of North Dakota will
make them all that the term free" sig
nifies, comprehending tuition, furniture
apparatus and libraries. Twill aid in en-
forcing the law Of compulsory attendance,
as it removes one of the obstacles to its
nforcement-inability to procure books
1t will teach the class most in need of the
instruction the principle consistent with
independent and dignified manhood, that
whatever a mans condition may be he is
entitled to the means of improving it.
Iwould recommend such legislation as
may be necessary to provide system Of
free and uniform text books for each
county in the state.