The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-07-17
For Free Text Books.

paper, and especially the people Of
Edwards County, are interested ip
the advancement of the public schools
OF our county ON an economical basis :,
and that they will hail, with gladness,
any plan that will tend to reduce the
general outlay Of means, and at the
same time advance and promote the
intrests Of our schools; 1 ask the
consideration Of the following words.
Being a teacher in the school
of the county Imake the following
appeal for free text books for our
schools
But says one; 'sHow can we reduce
expenses by having the districts furn-
ish free teat books''p
In answer to this question I will
say; first that contracts can be made
with the publishers, especially the
American Book Co. so that the books
may be purchased at discount of 25
per cent from the retail list price, and
the books are sent C.. o. d. to the dis
trict clerk or teacher. OF course
we would have to pay the express
charges EXTRA Here is "a great saw
ing because the best We can hope
to do under the present .plan,ls to get
the books of the local dealer at the
Book Co.'S retail lust price.
Then again when the books are
bought by the district they are kept in
the school until they are worn out. and
not as it is now, when a pupil furnish
es the study of certain book Which
in most cases is onfy about one half
worn out, it is carried home, laid upon
the shelf aud another is bought Of the
local dealer which again in its tprR
is laid away and SO on.
But with the free text book system
when the pupil enters school, the
teacher at once determines What books
he DIS and supplies him out of tht
district library, and charges his parents
or guardian with the cost price Of the
books. Then the child IL given to un-
derstand that those books are to be
used and cared for during the term rs
his own property. It being made
upon the teacher. in his
to SEQ that the books are,
cared for i'll a reasonable way. And
when the school term closes the pupils
return the books tn the teacher, who
gives them credit for the same upon
the text book register.
Thus it Will be seen that the number
of books required to run a school for
number of years will be greatly lessen
ed.
And again by purchasing the books
out of a special fund raised by taxa
ton for that purpose: that the non
resident landowner will pay great
part of our text book bill but AS it Is
he pays nothing. And all know that
the text book bill is no small part of
The expenses connected with running
school. 90
Thus it will be seen that by the
above arrangement there will be
saving in at least three ways: first, at
at least 20 per cent is saved upon the
cost price Of the books, second
there will be q saving of at least 90
per cent more in the number of books
needed. and third; the nonresident
land owner would pay Tor about of
the books.
But the greatest advantage has not
yet been mentioned. and that is the
school will always he supplied with the
books needed in order that the pupils
may pursue tho study of the proper
branches at the proper time; and the
teacher will not be troubled with send
ing notes to the parent requesting them
to get books for the child, which notes
are often disregarded by the parents
and thus the child is hindered from
accompl fishing the work which lie
should do during the term because he
needed text books.
Hoping that all who read this art
icle will give these propositions due
consideration, and that something
may be speedily done toward the Sc
curing of free text books for the schools
of Edwards County,
@ / am, Yours respectfully
II Z Poo5ar