The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-04
A TEACHERS vrEwo

On tho School book Question and tho
Method OF Its nont-rho De,nn.
Eosio Talk About u Monopoly Docs Not
Meet with Favor.
To he Editor otte Inttliiceneer.
SfR:-1 Watched the proceedings OF
the legislature with great deal OF in.
tereat and am FREQ to say that to all ap-
pearancea it was business body in
every respect Tho aim seemed to be
to make record that would cause their
constituents to believe that they were
doing everything in their power to leg
islato for the good OF the entire people.
This is all good, rs far rs it goes, but
there was one bill passed, to which
would call attention |. O., the school
book bill. The writer would have had
something to say concerning this be-
ioro the bill was passed, had it not been
from tho fact that he feared that he
would have been pounced upon us being
friend OF tho great monopoly" tho
American Book Company, as all o!hers
were who in any way shape, manner or
form. in word, decd, look or thought
did or said auaht against tho bill, or
| favored retaining tho majority OF the
books already in our schools and thus
save the expense OF change. But now
the work ia done tho bill is passed, and
have this to say OF it and OF the means
used to pass It.:
1t looked 10 careful reader OF tho
nj n II nut "a
OF the extreme measure making q
sweeping change in the toxt books wore
more anxious to strike blow at the
"big monopoly" than they wero to get
better books Tor tho people. For in-
stance, the idea Of Hyde's language les.
sons taking the place OF uarvey's gram
mar is simply ridiculous to those who
have made study OF tho two books. Ii
| tie teacher is what he or she should be,
| perhaps il is not very important what
| the text book is, but it is n Condition,
not theory" that conirouts us. The
teachers are not what they should DO,
nor can We expect them to DO thus until
they are paid salaries that will enable
them to devote themselves entirely to
| the work. Well, our teachers have
been taught in Harvey's grammar, and
they can surely teach it TO others much
| better than thoy cau teach now book,
aud especially one not 80 good as tho
one in use. uyde's lessons are scarcely
an introduction to Ilarvey's revised
grammar, and unless technical gram
mar is dropped entirely from tho course
| our boys aud girls must DO permitted to
study work on the subject There
may be better grammars than llarvcy's
revised. 1.-THE writer has seen but few
better but we nave this book. and why
| 60 to the expense oil change?
Brooks mental arithmetic is n good
work, but it was prepared expressly for
high and normal school work; in TACT, it
is tho outgrowth OF tho methods OF
teaching the subject in the Pennsy!-
vania State Normal School at Mllers-
vile. The writer has taught from tho
book and kuows whereof he speaks.
Tho change in histories was impcra-
lively demanded, and the legislature
did well III doing rs it did.
And now as to tho monopoly" Do
not our legislators know that these
books wers first adopted when they
were published by Wilson & Hinkle and
later by Van Antwerp, Bragg Is Co.,
long before the American Book Com.
pany was formed? Do they not know
also that for years west Virginia has
been getting school books much cheaper
than many other states, il not cheaper
than any other state? a reliable NOR
chant living in the state oil Ohio, Just
across tho river from our state, told tho
writer about ton years ago that when
| he was short OF books ut one timo he
camo across tho river to our state, pnr.
chased the books at our retail price, and
made n greater per cent on his invest
mcnt than when lie bought tho same
books at tho wholesale price they paid
for them in Ohio. Tho reason oil this
was that thoy had what was called
township adoption and VIC state adop.
ton. My theory is to got tho best
books for as reasonable price rs posi-
bic, even II they ato purchased from
the "crasping monopoly" ~. tho Amer.
lean Book Company.
Another thing, Mr.. Editor: SEQ.
from u report TO TINT elect. TINT there
were seven teachers members OF tho
house Of delegates. Would itnot have
boon MI act OF courtesy TO lavo mp.
pointed one Of thom chairman OF tho
committee on education? Or do tho
teachers know nothing OF tho very sub
jcct on which thoy arc supposed to DO
we'll pos,edP Tho same speaker must
not only have the chairman, but nil tho
members OF tho judiciary committee
lawyers. then why not follow the same
rulu na 20 tho committee on education?
In anying this / do not moan to under.
rate tho ability OF tho worthy chairman
Of tho committee, but do know that |
could name more than ono OF tho teach.
crs referred TO who ara his equal IN
ability, aud. from their bcn. teachers
ought TO know Mt least as mach con
cunning tho wants Of our HcnooIs aud
tho legislation necessary to meet these
wants. While | would not dare to
charge that either tho speaker or tho
aforesaid chairman had any object Ia
Wow IN tho mnttor. that Is. tho ono in
seeking and tho other In making, tho
appointment, do say that both took
Bpecal pains 10 show thoir opposition
to tho American Book Company; in
short, tloy at limos acted rs though,