Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-03-27


lished. as follows: For the spelling
book. 10 cents: for the First reader,
| 10 cents: for the Second reader, IL
cents; for the Third reader, % cents;
for the Fourth reader. 80 cents; for
the Fifth reader, 40 cents: for the
mental arithmetic, 20 cents: for. the
intermediate arithmetic, 25 cents; for
the complete arithmetic, 35 cents: for
the elementary geography, 30 cents;
| for the complete geography, IS cents;
&, for the English grammar, elementary,
! 20 cents: complete grammar, IS cents:
physiology and hygiene, so cents; for
history of the United States. 80 cents;
| for elements of natural philosophy,
/ 80 cents: for civil government, 40
cents; for elementary algebra, so
cents; for physical geography, so
cents; for bookkeeping, 40 Genus;
writing books, cents each.
1t was claimed by the lobby of
school book publishers present while
this bill was under discussion that
first-class books could not be produced
at the prices named. While number
of books at present in use have been
ard to which the contract books must
come, the commission is made final
judge. and whatever it agrees to ac-
cept will become the lawful text
books. regardless of outside opinion.
This feature probably accounts for
the activity of certain we'll known
''negOtiators," who have been striv-
ing to secure places upon the commits
sion.
The state decennial census of 1895
discloses that Kansas has 499, 1923
children of school age. We have not
at hand the figures of school attend
ance. 1t is estimated by prominent
educators that under the prices fixed
by the new law it will cost each pupil
S1.25 to equip himself with books.
Applying this to the children of
school age, it is obvious that a cash
outlay of 1924, 152 will be required to
put state uniformity into full effect.
This is not exactly fair, however, for
the law requires the contractor to eX-
change for the old books on basis of
80 per cent of the value of the new,
and this would reduce the outlay to
10 per cent commission allowed the
local agents.
This seems like tremendous bur-
den to impose upon the people of
Kansas at time when they are feel
ing so particularly hard up. That the
people do not altogether approve of it
is made manifest in the many con-
tracts which were hastily made be-
tween school boards and publishers
last week for continuance of the
books now in use. Such contracts en-
able the districts to evade the provi-
sions of the new law for at least five
years.
In the long run. however, Kansas
will discover that the greatest hard
ship from this new law does not come
from the money expended. State
uniformity is wrong in principle and
disadvantageous in practice. The
books which are proper for well
equipped city school, which remains
in session nine or ten months in the
year, and which is supplied with APP
paratus far beyond the average, will
not do at all for the country school,
where the term may not be more than
six months. 1t would vary only in
degree from Il system which required
every boy, regardless of size. to wear
| trousers exactly thirty inches in
length. Education is not something
which can be shoveled into all alike
The boy who quits school on April L
to help his father with the spring
blowing is confronted with the prob
lem of getting as much general knowl-
edge as his limited hours will permit.
and he cannot, in justice to himself,
spare time for the thorough delving
/ into many branches which is practic-
ed at the city schools. BY the state
uniformity he is either hampered
with cirriculmu unsuited to his
station and opportunities, or else is
permitted to drag his more fortunate
city brother down to his own educa-
tional level. A law is wrong in prin-