The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-07
Thousands Spent in Revising a
Single Textbook for
the Schools.
NOW DECLARED WORTHLESS.
Three Expensive Employees of the
State Who Labored for
Months in Vain.

textbooks was introduced, and before
the session adjourned W. H. V.
Raymond, who is dubbed school
book editor" and draws $3.50 month from
the State had it wildly impressed upon
his mind by Governor Budd that in the
future he would be required to further the
work of compiling at more speed, as when
the fund for that purpose was exhausted
no deficiency would be allowed to be
created.
"Rush the work along" said Mr.. Budd,
for when the money is gone you will strike
a snag."
mo I won't" retorted Raymond, ''for
I'll sail right to the mouth of the stream"
The first textbook to be considered vas
the new English grammer, the compiling
of which has occupied the attention of Mr.
Raymond and his two assistants, Miss
George and Miss Murphy, for upward of
year.
Professor LANCE OF the State University
to whom the work had been referred for
criticism, gave it a thorough going over
that was by no means creditable to Mr..
Raymond.
The work in its present condition was
unfit for publication, he declared. Simple
problems were thrown into prominence
and difficult ones we're obscure. 1t was
not strong in any particular, and if it pos
sessed a system he failed to discover it,
If the questions were grouped according
to the arrangements of the text it would
result in mental chaos. Errors were preva-
lent in Interpretation and classification
and distinctions of gender were excluded.
These errors ran through the entire work,
which in places would have to be entirely
rewritten.
Professor Pennen of Chico said that he
had placed the work with an authority and
the verdict was: TOO bulky; it begins
nowhere and ends in the same place"
Then it is in such shape" interrupted
Governor Budd. THAT another appropria-
ton Will be required to revise it."
well" rejoined the professor, "the
work impresses me as having been con-
structed with the idea that teachers were
ignorant of grammar altogether"
Mr.. Raymond" questioned the Cover
nor, sis this book in type?"
mo; the proof was taken and the type
distributed"
"Whatw Numbered the executive, "Has
all this to be set up again?"
That's the rule" answered Raymond.
After discussing the length of time
which had been consumed in compiling
the work by Raymond and his assistants,
Governor Budd said:
THE work OF your assistants for eighteen
months at a joint salary of $500 amounts
TO $5400; your own time for six months at
$3.50 amounts to $500, total of $1,000. Do
you mean to say that it cost nearly $1,000
to get up that almost useless proof and
that it will take TWO months longer to re-
wise it?"
Eyes, sir, replied Raymond.
Then the Governor sank back in his
chair and used his handkerchief vigor-
ously.
At this moment one of the board asked
Professor LANCE if he considered that
those who had compiled the work were ca
pable enough to revise it. For moment
he refused to answer, aid then he slowly
said:
II don't consider the question fair"
The Governor conceded and the matter
was dropped.
Professor Pierce said that the grammar
in use was radically wrong, and the rest
all agreed. Then Governor Budd gave
Mr.. Raymond a specimen of his official
pants of public offices throughout the
State who have been thought derelict in
their duties have sampled in the past.
''Mr. Raymond, did you write the man.
uscript of this grammar"
Il wrote a little of it-a very little-but
/ furnished lot of material"
"Clipped?" laconically asked the execu-
tive.
Clipped some; not much"
"Then you took the easy part and let the
ladies rustic with the other. Now, | want
to call your attention to the fact that the
act OF the Legislature provided for the re-
vision of these schoolbooks, and you have
taken it upon yourself to say what the
word revise means"
"Well, among publishing houses it has
always been defined"
"Never mind the publishers; get the
dictionary"
Then the word was sought out and the
definition read. The act of the legislature
was then read, and it was found that the
history was to be compiled and the other
books revised.
This provoked discussion that at times
verged into warmness. Several of the
members of the board said that thew
deemed an entirely new book necessary.
alt makes no difference what we think.
We must be governed by the law; we can
not govern the law" said the Governor.
"The Legislature ordered a revision.
and that does not mean to compile.
Mr.. Raymond, at great expense to this
State, has done what the Legislature
plainly said shall not be DONE All the
expensive plates on hand that could have
been used are wasted, and this is what has
brought the printing of textbooks by the
State into disrepute.
"My attention was called to this matter
by State Printer Johnson, who, hearing
that this matter was coming before the
board, thought he would be blamed.
have never thought Johnson was to blame
in this matter. The blame lies elsewhere,
and" the Governor cast an expressive
glance toward Raymond.
Secretary of State Brown introduced
statement giving full history of the print
ing of textbooks by the State and the