The record-union., 1895-01-11
FREE TEXTBOOKS.

The new Superintendent of Public In
struction favors free textbooks for pub
lie school children, claiming that they are
the natural accomplishments of free
school system; that the children of rich
and poor should in this matter be placed
on an equality.
There is all this and moro to be said in
favor of free books, but as much, and
more, perhaps. is to be said on the other
side. Somebody must pay for the books;
if those who use them do not, then all the
taxpayers must contribute to the cost
At present the sale of the books is at
price that meets the cost of maintaining
the State textbook system, which frees
the State from the evils of school book
solicitation by the representatives of
school-book publishers, and all the po-
litical and corrupt ENHANCEMENT under
which school book furnishing was once
prosecuted. II the revolving fund sys-
tenn is TO be abandoned, then the books
must be issued by virtue of direct appro-
priations, and the incentive to economy,
will be removed, and naturally the cost
of their production viii rise.
If books are furnished free to all there
Will be removed the inducement to keep
them in good condition. and hence very
much larger edition must be annually
printed. This Will lead to another evil,
namely, children will come to look upon
it as entirely proper to use the goods of
the State with undue freedom. This will
cultivate the spirit Of preylng upon Gov
ernment property. That spirit is large
understanding that if the city, county or
State foots bill it is of little moment to
individuals that it is a large one.
The demand is general that the ex-
penses of State Government shall be re-
duced; free textbooks mean very
large addition to the draft upon the
school fund-indeed. unless it is rein
forced by new taxation free books will
swamp 1t in short order.
1t is already provided that where any
child by reason Of inability of its parents
or guardian cannot procure school books,
the local school authorities may furnish
them. While it is said that this is
humiliating to honest poverty, yet it is
true that poverty is a condition which
always subjects its victims to more or
less of discomfort and humiliation. 1t is
very seriously to be doubted if giving
away school books operates in any way
to equaliZe conditons-if it does it is
merely sentimental equalization. since
no child in California has yet been de-
prived of school privileges because OF in
ability to buy school books. When the
new Superintendent says that economy
OF time and money will be conserved by
giving away school books, he speaks in
riddles. How economy is promoted by
increased taxation to furnish quarter of
million school children with free text
books is a puzzler; how time is saved by
free text books, is mystery.
Free textbooks will as certainly give
birth to another evil as that rank plants
will grow in the shade-namely, there
will be a strong incentive among those
who will flourish by supplying material
and labor for school-book production to
promote their Indifferent manufacture
and the rapid wearing out of the books
their misuse, and even their destruction;
whereas the incentive is now strong 10
preserve the books because they are the
nronertv of the individual who buys
them, and he becomes at once critical
concerning their good make up and their
wearing quality.