The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-02-17
THE SCHOOL BOOK QUESTION
Gov O'FerralI and Attorney General
Scott Again Reply 10 the Pilot:

Gov. O'Ferrall and Attorney General
Scott Again Reply TO the Pilot.
"The Virginia School Book CUES
ton" Is the title of pamphlet Just
from the press. 1t contains the re.
plies of Gov. O'Ferrall and Attorney
General Scott to the charges made
by the Norfolk Pilot that the public
school book list for 1894 was adopt-
ed by the Board of Education with
Indecent and unseemly haste"
The first reply was made Decem
Der y, 1884. The main object of
this paper was to prove that no
changes were made in the school
book list, because the superinten.
dents or the various counties and
cities of the State were practically
unanimous in their reports that the
existing list WIS satisfactory and no
changes were desired.
The pamphlet contains, also. q
second reply, under the date of
February 18th, 1895, which gives
the result of an examination to as.
certain whether the patrons of Vir.
ginia schools are paying more for
books than the patrons of the
schools In other States. They pre-
sent a schedule of prices In the va
rious States and Territories with
Which the American Book Company
and the University Publishing Com
pany have contracts. This list ONLY
shows three books which reach the
children at lower prices than in Viz
glnia-two in Maryland and one in
West VIrglnia-snd of these thew
gave bountlful explanation.
In closing, the reply says: eve
nave made TO you full and com
plete statement, withholding moth.
ing. The facts demonstrate that it
Is not trae that Virginia has been
outrageously defrauded,' and that
her contracts for school books are
80 Ubiquitous, and the discrimina
ton against her SO obvious and out
rngeous as to bear upon their faces
the badges OF fraud and corruption
ms has been charged. In our inyesti.
CATION we have found no discrimina.
ton against Virginia.
The patrons Of our public schools
would have Just cause of complaint
had the Board Of Education listened
to the clamor of rival publishing
companies, whose paid agents
thronged the city of Richmond last
spring, aud discarded the books
which their children had used for
many years-books which have stood
the test OF the school-room and
proved satisfactory to superinten
dents and teachers-to Introduce
others at heavy cost.
ION our adopted list there are
axty five books-twenty five of
them from tue pen OF Virginlans
anu one revised by a Virginia edu.
Gator.
"McGulrey's Primer, Speller and
headers. Holmes Speller aud Read
ers, Holmes History, Venable's
Arlthmetics, Maurys Biographies,
Harvey's Grammars, Davies Arith
lneucs and Wcbster's Dictionaries
were first introduced in 1871, and
nave peeh IN continuous use to the
present either old or revised edi
lions; IN 1878 Whites Complete
Arithmetic and Magill's History
were adopted, and in 1882 Apple.
tons Biographies were added to the
| Otnie list.
"Maxwell's Grammars and Shinn's
and hanseli's Histories were added
10 the list by the present poard-the
Histories Ill compliance with reso
| iutlon OF the Grand Camp of Con
lederate Veterans of the Department
| OF Virginia. But these additions
required no change of text books.
Our duty TO you and to the high
trust rreposed III us required that we
should do as we have done, uninilu
ehccd by the clamor of rival pub
hshihg companies or the eloquencs
OF their counsel. and We submit to
your judgment all that has been
d"he, satisfied that the contracts
mace with the publishing companies
that furnish school books III this
. 'ate are, IN all their parts, fair and
just we Know they have been hon
estiy made, and we believe they
nave been aud will be honestly kept.
our sole purpose as members OF
Tue state Board OF Education has
been to advance the interests of the
public schools and promote tho wei.
rare OF the children of Virginia"
Very respectfully,
CnAS. L. O'FERRA1L,
Governor OF Virginia.
Ii. TAYLOR SCOrr.