The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-22
EFFECT OF SCHOOL BOOK LAW.
Il is Expected to Make a Large Saw
ing to the People.

With perhaps one or two exceptions
all of the books provided as standards
for use in the schools of Kansas by the
new text book law passed at the last
session of the legislature will be offered
to the state school book committee for
adoption at the first meeting, which
will be held in the office of the superin-
tendent May 3.
Communications from the many pub
fishing houses in the east and north in
dictate that this meeting will bring to
Topeka large number of men whose
chief mission shall be to urge the adOp-
ton of their books. The samples which
have already been received represent
a high grade Of work and learning as
well. The books are well bound, finely
printed and on the whole present
marked Improvement over many of
those new in use.
There will be no slip-shod examina-
ton of the books which will be pre-
scented to the commission. On the con-
trary the members will tear a copy of
a book to pieces and carefully inspect
its entire makeup as to binding and
finishing. To become better aQuaint-
ed with the details of a book Superin-
tendent Stryker has, during the past
two weeks, spent much time in the
book binderies of this city. He has
taken a book from its inception in the
printing office and. following it through
the various stages of develop
meut. examined every detail in its
manufacture. AS result he is well
qualified to pass upon the material,
workmanship and quality of book.
SO far as the educational merit of
book is concerned, that, too, will have
a careful examination. The men who
COMPRISE the commission have been en-
gagged in school work in Kansas for
many years and are thoroughly &C
quainted with the various texts. Moth
ing about which there is any possible
question will be considered by the COM
mission Now that the enactment of
the new law has been secured after
struggle of years the commissioners
propose to give the people OF the state
the full benefit which the measure car
ries.
AS only six members of the commits
sion were confirmed by the senate, there
is some doubt about the appointment
of two additional members. It was
expected that D. o. McCray and D. c.
TiIlotson would be permitted to retain
their places on the board. However,
: they were not confirmed by the SEN
ate an act which is regarded as neces-
sary to secure strict compliance with
the law, it is generally understood mat
the six men who We're confirmed VIII
be left in charge of the business, AIDED
Nv Sllperintendent Stryker, who is a
mem Der as provided by law
Superintendent Stryker is president
of the board and as such officer he az
nounces that he will hold the votes of
five mem berS necessary to take action
Of any kind This places the question
of a majority Of the commission beyond
dispute. ..-.
An interesting story in connection
with the school book business in the
west has just leaked out.
The book companies, which probably
have kept their agents better posted
than educators upon the subject OF
books have a schedule which shows
the proportion in which the various
books are used, to be as follows:
Readers, % per cent.
Arithmetics, 20 per cent
Biographies. Is per cent
GraTnmars, 10 per cent.
Spelling books, per cent
Copy books, 6 per cent.
United States histories, per cent.
Physiology, 5 per cent
bookkeeping, 3 per cent.
Constitution, per cent.
An agreement among the book COM
panies which shows the absolute need
Of some law similar to the one Kansas
now has throughout the west has been
destroyed in this state by forcing com
petition.
The average book publishing house
regards a contract to furnish the COM
plete adoption of text books as being
worth 10 cents for each person in the
city or county where such adoption is