The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-06
PROTEST FROM HOUSTON.
The School Bosrd Committee mas
Prepared the Memorial.
EHICB HAS BEEN MAILED TO AUSTIN.
eunn rext 81 the Document Opposing
the uniform system OF Text
4 uooks for Public schools.

l3W{4no committee Oh tuo So~'o ~
"A nustees OF the city OF Houston, consisting
II y Nessrs. C. lombard and Rufus Cage
HI ana Professor w S. Sutton, superintendent
y < schools. appointed to memorabilia tne
.ll legislature in opposition to the bill TO pro-
vide for uniform system OF text BOOKS Tor
IA public schools, completed its labors last
IA 1ieht and signed the communication they
a propose to forward to Austin In the man
n 1 htch left here last night the following
Il memorial started 10 Austin. addressed 10
\; senator Waller r. Burns, Hon John
X Brown and Hon. W. ii. Holland. Harris
i .ounty members in the two houses OF the
A twenty fifth legislature:
X At a recent meeting Of the board OF trus-
ices OF the Houston public schools there
4 vas adopted by unanimous vote rt~oia-
II ion declaring Il to be the sense OF SAID
= BOARD that law providing for state UNI
4, nrmity OF text books 10 be used In the
.oubiic schools would be unwise and WOULD
& ,e detrimental 10 the best interests Of CT
ication In Texas. We. whose names arc
4 subscribed TO this communication. were APP
\ poirted a committee to present for your
4 moderation some OF the more important
4 reasons why State uniformity with respect
10 school books Is undesirable. These req
sons are herewith respectfully submitted
p l. Any law pertaining TO the Schools
1 ,hould, without question. be framed to sub
serve the best interests o. the pupils. iu
whose behalf the vast machinery OF our
school system has been established. law
establishing a uniform series OF school
books would exclude from TEXAS all new
and improved books that may hereafter be
.ppblishe1. We make this statement Win
',onfldenee, for we believe that a series OF
II ~ T.. IN . 10 qasNI IL
I 3f the State. would acquire 50 powerful an
advantage over competing hoSs before the
lime for new adoption should arrive that
competition would practically be redaeet
70 zero.
= School books deal with matters intvli---
aiai, and the greatest possible freedom
should with reasonable limits. be giyeu pit
Ehors and publishers that the results OF
ithsir best though, and labor may b. given
to the world The entire youth 81 Texas.
! state whose history HISS been made glo-
rfous by her peoples love % freedom and
10y the achievements q personal and 81
local Independence. should not b confined
while In school 10 the study o' any enc
,eries Of books The children " Texas are
isntitled 10 the benefits % h. derived from
he best books e1tant, regardless q authors
lor publishers Books are educatiobal tools
land surely !, would be as unwise 20 pre-
ipcribe what school room tools shall I've used
throughout The State TO prescribe what /
'sfols shall be used hy the artisans Of the
State II is really more unwisc. FOR teach I,
ting it an ar; in which the spiritual element /
lpreS5omincies
? A law requiring State uniformity % I
ext hooks would In some Instances. 70 1
ltcub, ~ no, IN every instance lead 80 ,he T.
hdnptson o. inferior books. We make 'his 4
txks ton because q the fact that State |
law has for IS chief purpose I
he reduction Q, tho cost ~ books a state !
gard charged with selecting books woIla |
!'efr properly keep 10 view ihe main rrr-
5cse OK ihe law. and would. therefore.
-5lkiaer very carefully The prices % books.
ivuuid scru,inize thoroughly the binding.
he pzpEr the typography sud other cy-
ernat Items. tut would 10: attach equal |
IMPORTANCE - the iutcr1al nature x haoR., (
heir thought, 'hr;r style. their sentiment. I
heir genius Every hook HE every man I
has a soul and l Is real economy 70 m I
'est IN books having the best souls As a 1
lrle the CHEAPEST books are ihe poorest I
nd. IN The end he dearest w. Nho -cp- 1
esent the interests o, ali the childrea IN !
Texas. are charged with tho responsible 1
auiy o. adopting only such policies as IS Do /
eeure for tHs schools n ihls city AMI itis
ilnie the most efficient Instruction ros-
lihle
g. We believe tina, the cost ~ school \
books IL yeY often uuduly maEnihei In !
bis city the text books necessary fnr TIE
Frst seven years 81 tho puoiis school life
POST n the aggregate sl5.05 or on the
,serag,. s2is per annum or a weekly I
UNI less than the cost OF stree, cor ride
cheap cigar. Or a glass u beer IN some
faces IN Texas. local book sellers may /
harge exorhitant prices for books. and I
re sec no objection 10 the adoption Of such /.
treasures az viii furnish 10 every patron
4 the public schools the pGbliBhegs mail
'ng prices Of the school books his children
SC
= " is charred mat the publishing ~ 4
e 4, nool BOOKS IA In TIC hands ~ trntt and /
sn ny consequently prices ara too high. We
bundled as there are rnanv s,n,oi -