The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-10-01
FREE TEXT BOOKS.
4 Plea for the System by Hon. H. s,
Hadsall

4 Plea for the System by Hon. H. s
Hadsall.
address this communication to those In
Berested in the matter which shall follow
In doing SO do not wish to be considered
as posing as reformer or agitator, but
simply as one equally interested with Others
10 all matters for the public good.
For some time have considered what tC
ne seems great fault in the educational
system in our city. We are proud, as Q
people, of our school buildings, efficient
teachers and educational advantages, and
our growing demand for more rooms to ade-
quafely accommodate the pupils, but to me
the beauty of the picture is marred from the
fact that the text books used In connection
Herewith must be procured in such way
that IL becomes hardship on the patrons OF
the schools. am aware of the fact that no
pupil need go without school books IL the
parents are unable to buy them, but In that
regard many who are really unable to af-
ford the luxury of S. 90 per year per pupil
for new books, will by rigid self-deuial pro-
cure the needed books rather than be con-
sidered on the pauper list. Property is as
sessed for funds to build the buildings, fur
nish apparatus, employ instructors, every
thing up to the point where the pupil begins
school. then stops, and really the largest
expense-that of procuring school books
is unprovided for.
During the last session of the legislature
hard battle was fought between the peo-
pie and the school book publishers combi-
nation, and the people but partly succeeded
ia the matter OF the uniformity of text
books. 1t was step In the right direction
but did not 60 far enough. 1t should have
compelled all school districts to furnish text
books free, or rather the free use of them.
Many cities of this state have the free text
book system, and as far as l am able to
ascertain 1t Is entirely satisfactory. l have
taken some time to investigate tae matters
and have received many letters from secie-
taries of school boards where the system IS
inAuse, and In every instance 1t gives uni.
Versal satisfaction. For instance, in the
dties Of Saginaw and Bay City, the secreta-
~ Of the Saginaw school board writes me
in answer to my question, ''What is the |
average cost per year per pupil to furnish |
che books?" "After once supplied, aver
age cost Is about 33 Ia cents" In that city |
they have operated under the system for |
seven years. Bay City has the system only |
mp to and including the 9Th grade, at an |
average cost per pupil of from go cents to
10 cents per year. The first three years the
system was in use, owing to the fact that
the pupils, many Of them owned their own
books, the net cost per capita was only SO
SCENTS per annum. The superintendent of
schools in his annual report says: 1T can
not be denied that from an economical
standpoint the balance Is greatly in favor of
the board purchasing the text books. How
ever. even If the question of cost were to be
entirely eliminated, there are to my mind
several reasons why this plan should be
pursued" Then follows in the report many
reasons, one of which is, 1.-THE confusion
arising from lack of books, or from the
child's possessing mutllated books, is obvi-
ated."
Under carefully managed lsystem there
are always enough whole books on hand to
supply the school, for when any book be-
comes unfit for use 1t Is condemned, and, IL
beyond profitable repair, 1t Is destroyed.
Thus the child, always In possession Of a
book In useable condition, has not this ex-
suse for being uhprepared with his lessons, !
and many vexatious delays and Interrupt
ti0ns are avoided. After trial of three
years, 1t seems to me that the free text book
system may be pronounced success. IN
doubleday the machinery connected with Its
proper manipulation requires extra atten-
tion on the part of the employees of the
board, especially the principals but this is
Do be expected, and with scarcely an excep-
ton, so far as ! am aware, this service has
been cheerfully rendered. 1t may be men,
toned as a somewhat significant fact of pop
ular approval that the city of Detroit has
lately been added to the list OF cities in our
state which have adopted the free text book
system.
The assessed valuation Of Owosso is about
1885, 0c. The school district, embracing
rs It does some land outside the city on the
south side, the assessed valuation of the
district would he greater; but for the pur-
pose of making The estimate the 81, $50, 900
ls sufficient and perfectly fair as the larger
the valuation the smaller cost per capita.
Using the experience of Bay City on the
of the system as basis for the
the net amount expended for text
y ....... 80. a.. A. a.. =,