Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-01-28


of Audubon, who are interested in the
free text book movement, few reasons
why favor the system. In doing this 1
do not wish to antagonize anyone. but,
as citizen and interested as am in the
welfare of Audubon, 1 regard it my
privilege and right to express my honest
opinion on a question in which I am
deeply interested. The question should
be fairly and honestly discussed with all
prejudice laid aside, and when the
time comes for its final decision by the
vote of the people, each one should vote,
not with view to self interest, but in
accordance with the best interest OF our
schools and the general welfare of the
community.
The only satisfactory solution of the
long agitated school book question is
free text books. There are many places
where text books are furnished free, and
no instance is known where the people or
teachers are dissatisfied with the system,
while, on the other hand, all other sys-
TENS in which attempts were made to
lessen the cost of school books, have
failed in certain vital points.
At the beginning of the term it is
almost invariably the case that classes
are delayed sometimes two and three
weeks, because the dealers do not have
enough books to supply the classes, or
parents are either slow or do not have
the means to supply the necessary books,
and thus much valuable time is lost.
This is true not only in the beginning OF
the school year, but it is equally true at
any time during the year when new
classes are formed. This Inconvenience
and waste of time is entirely avoided
where the necessary books are on the
shelves of the school.
Again it facilitates better grading of
the school. It is often necessary to
change one grade to another. Under a
free text book system this can easily be
done without any expense, whereas it is
often not done because it would make it
necessary for the parents to purchase a
new set OF books suitable for that grade.
But the greatest difficulty the teacher
has to contend with under the present
system is that children of poor parents
are not supplied with books necessary to
enter their classes. We have rule
which debars children, who are not
supplied with the necessary books, from
school privileges; and L must confess
that, in some instances, have rigidiy
enforced that rule, but never without
pang of conscience in depriving a child
OF educational privileges, and yet the
justice of the rule must be admitted in
many cases where parents are indifferent.
Anyone by moments reflection AN
realize how difficult it is to teach n'.iId-
rem who are not supplied with books.
Besides there are children in Audible
who are not in school, simply because
the parents are not able to buy looks
for them. Only last week lady 8 ,ppcd
asked me if 1 could not 90 a35 sNi~r
for her girl in the way Of sup1lyrmr
with books in order THAI she m'gi
school. There number Of .a.i.ar
cases in Audubon.
There is another advantage III the free
text book plap that deserves Eaepti 4tug.
n,,r al ,+I, -1f, '=-
80 far that we do not have caou1b
readers for the lower grades. Tko first
second and third reader CLASSES Should
each read at least three different kinds
of readers. Under tic free iayt boot
plan this could be done wit G u1 Z.
tional expense, since three dif' a2d
of first readers would last lIoe 49,.
long as ru',arJ 10 child till Aa g
lew mdreuo- - leau. ~-a..
sent system, to carry out this u...
should be. 4 We" n--.5sar:y 70 -
parents thrvs times as much.
In the next article / shall aas .-
facts taken from actual exp .....
the plan has been in use IL. aa i'm
These will be along the linz e. s a,..
care of the books, and The Ge rl o.-
proval q lc plan.
L have thought on this av"-
many years and have become firm ia w..
convictions that the plaH il .De 0a.
true ole aud = hat nothing could
be done 20 bcncCs our sch .5, N.sa aa.
by furnishing the childrou book
same as other things a.o au:4iaha7 .I
thus make our schools c-.'-o.
I shall DO glad to answaa .g
tions any one may wish a#. If
able to do g. Y A.oEGn.
SUNDAY, Gci,nnI Count = II 49,