The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-08-20
NEW TEXT BOOKS.

Some school boards in the county
seem to be in doubt as to what to do
in relation to the new textbooks.
We have made inquiry Of those whose
business it is to know and find that
the school boards of this county have
no option in the matter, they must
require the teacher they hire to use
the new books.
This will work no hardship on pa
rents as they can turn in their old
books, if in good condition, and get
new ones ut about half the cost of the
old ones.
Ex-Chief Justice David Martin says;
Under the law existing from 1885
until 1897, where county uniformity
was not adopted, what was the power
of school district or city OF the
hrst class or the second class to pre-
scribe uniformity of text books in its
schools? There was no express statu-
tory authority: but the district boards
and the boards of education are gov
erning bodies for the schools, with
power to make rules and regulations
respecting them, and, in the absence
of any prohibition, this may perhaps
extend even to the right to select text
books and to require their use in the
schools. 1t is intended, however, that
these governing bodies shall change
more or less each year; and usually
rule or regulati on may be changed
or wholly set aside by the succeeding
board the next year, Just as legls-
lature may undo what its Immediate
OF it's remote predecessor may have
done. The law of contracts does not
enter into the question, for such dis
tricts and cities had no power to enter
into contracts with publishers or deal
ers which should be binding upon the
pupils or their parents.
Boards of county cOmmlssi Oners
change their membership in abaut the
same manner as schooi-district boards
and boards of education, and it was
held, in NMirnal Bank Us. Peck, 43
Kan. 643. that such a board could not
designate a county depository for
Ghree years that should be binding
upon a succeeding board, although
the statute did not limit the term of
depository; and like decision was
made in Sheldon Us. COmnrs Of Butler
Co., AS Kan. 356. as to the designa
tion of the official county paper for
more than one year. By analogy, l
think it should be held that between
1885 and 1857 no school-district board
or board of education not subject to
county uniformity could prescribe a
uniform series OF textbooks for a
period extending beyond the life OF
the existing board
County uniformity of textbooks has
never been adopted in this county and
so under Martins opinion any con-
tract made by our school-district
boards could extend only to the end
of the school year, as we have a new
board each year.
State Superintendent Stryker says:
''The book trust is the greatest foe
to our common schools to-day. It's
grasp upon them in our own State
will be released only after every eff Ort
possible to evade and defy the law
has failed.
"From the day the Textbook bill
was introduced in the legislature,
everything that money could buy has
been used to defeat it's passage and
prevent its successful operation. Their
| agents are busily engaged now prom
Using protection and urging school
boards to defy the law and continue
to use their books.
''The books adopted, and those en-
trusted with the putting Of the law in
operation will be criticised from every
possible standpoint to the end that
trust books and trust prices may
| again be forced upon the people"
This law is one of great value to the
state, and the spirit of it should be
obeyed promptly and cheerfully that
the best interests of the children may
he served