The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-09

There are number of other expenses
which might legitlmately be put IN the
above table if they could be definitely ar
rived al. For instance, it will be noticed
the first grade has apparently escaped the
deluee. Superintendent Webster has pro-
vided for them by sending "sugge sion,"
so urgent as to be generally considered
imperative to the principals aboEshing
the time honored slate. That means that
the wee tots are to use blue paper pads.
And that means bigger outlay.
The table does not begin 10 represent
the additional cost of books of this year
over las. By rearrangipg the course and
putting the books into the hands OF the
pupils from one or two years earlier than
heretofore the expense is added to every
grade. In the fourth grade each pupils
books cost 81 Is more than last year. in
the sixth 81 90 more and so on. The
fathers OF the fourth-grade children
throughout the City will pay $10,0 more
for books this year than last and the
fathers of sixth-grade pupils Will pay
$8287 so more.
All over the City the parents are natur-
ally voicing their objections. 1t is not
alone those upon whom the additional
dollars come as a serious burden that are
obiecting. There IS feeling among ali
classes that they are bang i'm posed upon.
Mrs. Larkin, IA Priest street, said:
3 y
ridiculous. l have been able to send only
two of my children to school on account
of the extra amount 10 be paid.
1.-THE idea OF calling the school system
free herel The schools of America can
not be compared to those of London.
There every thing is free-text books,
blanks and writing materials-and vet
they talk OF the school system in the
United States.
My little boy bought the books they
told him the first day, and when he
brought them to school they proved to be
OF no use to him. Such expense as that
poor people like myself cannot afford.
There Is little store across the way from
the Denman School, which is the one my
children attend, where the children were
told to buy their books"
MIS-. J. Hamel of Reid street, speak
ing of the new books said:
"The books this year have cost me from
81 to SO, which during these times l can
not well afford.
"My younger children cannot use the
books their older brother and sisters used
when they were in the lower classes.
There were so many unnecessary attic e.
they needed. for instance that book called
Heart Culture and the bags for their
books-why can't they carry them any
way they wish2 If they are ashamed of
the children's rag ed books, WHY can't
tney nave lhem printed ana sold for such
a price one can afford to buy them new,
instead of second and third hand, as is
now the case?
my children were obliged to get their
books at certain firm, and the teacher
even went so far as 10 write the name OF
the firm on the childrens list"
Mrs. NJ. e. Wendt of 1909 Leavenwortb
street is one of the most indignant
What better can we expect from such a
board ?" she remarked. They are irving
10 patronIze few firms here, and for that
reason they sacrifice the poor parents.
They insisted that my children should
get certain kind OF blank book that was
made by certain firms, and the books
have printed on them 5 cents, but when
it comes to buy them they make the chill
dren pay 10 cents.
"Anotber peculiar thing is the idea of
having two arithmetlcs and two readers
in one grade. Surely that is an extra ex-
pense-using the Third Reader one day
and the Fourth the next. Could they not
in some way have the Mental and Ad-
vanced arithmetics com bined IL one
book?
They had State series of books here,
and for some unexplained reason they
were suddenly put out of use. We poor
people depend upon using the books more
than one or two years"
Mrs. c. S. Nutting, 1920 Pacific street
Eight dollars for books for my two chill
drenl Why, 1t is atrocious. My little
boy had to get a book called Heart Gull
ture, and he does not know his a, b. C's
yet. They have abolished the use OF states
for children and Obliged them to use