The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-25
NON SHOULD PEOPLE VOTE!
For or Against the Adoption
of Free Text Books.
OPPOSING VIEWS PRESENTED


Tn view o. The rear approach
OF the school election which
10 determine whether Or rot sehooi
district No. shall supply the
nuuas IN its pabilc schools wlfa free texs
books and supplies. TIRE post-infeiiigsaeer
takes pleasure in presenting its readers
thss morning wifh discussion Of the plan
from tao opposite points o. vIsw.
eouaty Superintendent ~ seboois Mere
9th. wAo l. from his position clossiy In
touch with current conditions n the
schools. and who has throx8 bis whole
influence In favor of FREE text books, vas
seer b. reporter yesterday and said.
When I first approached the subjee:
OF free text books | opposed e upon he
same grounds n9w occupied - antagonists
of the idea. What fifst induesd me "a
look favorabiy npoa e VAS the trouble I
encountered IL setting parents 70 Keep
shefr children supplied vita writina paper.
pens and INK when TIE seheol board ppr-
chased THESE things and placed them q
ny hands for distribution. al trouble
ceased. became respeasihie for the pr'p-
sr handing aad preservation 81 the sap
plies the pupils realizing thai theg Must
Do no damsge because tasT we're using
1,nbile property
'sThey als not resent sny regulations con
eernlng the care OF theif writing material.
a. they were Inclined 20 do when they
owned the articles themselves. They were
pleased with TIE uniformity which the new
plan made possible. AMI there were no
odions eemnzFiseHa and distinctions be-
tween weil-i0-do children aGa those whose
parents we're very poor
'Aftefward I had eecasloR To inquire
Into the workings ~ the free text hook
plan where u had been n force for SOME
years. In no case hsTe ! found any ali
lection on the part o. thase who have seen
sfhe plan In actual operation. Ii has been
demonstrated beTond all question taat
many Of tho most serious obstacles 20
progress III the sah0ols particularly tae
country schools. are overcome by free text
books. Last spring Just before the eaun-
try districts voted upon the question.
issued circular letter In which set forth
very briefly the arguments FOR and against.
These arguments were gathered from eve
cry available SQUIRE and covered the sub
jsct completely. I have not since encoun-
tered anything not Included In these argu-
ments whlrh I would here repeat as they
express better ms ideas thAn any longer
statement could make;
Arguments for
=, Lessons may BE- assigned and organ
fysiion fully effected the tirst day 81 school
even months eften pass hy before every
pupil is supplied wlth books aud each can
do effective work
- IL II absolutely proved b. statistics
that free text books increase iha average
attendance from 10 - per cent or even
o. per cent. Increasing the districts ap-
rortionment "a that extent
- The Inevitable distinction bstweea
the rich boy with plenty Of clean rev
books, ard the poor boy with dog cared
books or mono at all. and the consequent
patronage az the one or the dependence OF
the other with all the odlnus distinctions
sure 70 arise. are hy this system wholly
as ogded.
- II relieves the excuse that Father
doesn't want me 20 study this when the
real reason Is not opposition 20 the study
IN question. but again, the inability 20 buy
the book. Hence. the classes may ne bet
Ter graded
Is. II places the entire school work n
The hands 81 the teacher and adds a very
Important means Of forging mare firmly
The tHauence ~ the teacher upon the lives
and habsts of her pupils
s 4 T. the almost universal testi-
mont af school officers gathered from
many reports thar pupils take better care
81 backs heloasing 10 the dlBtrlc, than
they Formerly did ~ their own
z. The books lasI longer because they
cat. instead Of heinz laid away when the
owner has finished them. often as good as
rev
IS N fufnishea excellent means OF en-
forcing habits % ihouEhtful care OF puhlic
property aud IF the rights % others It
viii teach patriotism. The pupil who re-
oilAes That tae state furnishes him free
sehoais. free tuition and free text books.
will feel that h. owes his state his Support
aud devotion
y. Enough books obvlatr excessive use
Of the blackboard on the part ~ the tea a.
e. af3d copying from the ha1rd hv pupua
which physicians hold cau-cs much Of tA.,
weak eyes AMI nervous troubles 50 preta-
iegt in oar latitude
Re The money Of poor people whish
heretofore has gone for books mas now he
applied - buying food and cIolhiue thus
keenlaR the chiidrva longer Ia school
II Free text books feud 20 create enc
thuaiasm IN bath teachers and pupils re
their work, due 20 a knowledge thar an are
working sdXautagcopslv
''is Nonresident landowners helm q,
pay for what directly ADDS value ta ana
protects sheir property tatoltiEent clltncn-
ship
as Only by free seNt boeks sre 7ur
schools realif free as taey must 81. II We
would best conserve the interests ~ the
state.
IL Wherever II has been tried IL Has
siven unqualified suecess and no lo-4lttv
that has onee tried it would aver tAink ~
returning - The old system Several ~