The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-04-02
Concerning Fext- Books.

learn something about the new
method of selecting school books
for use in the free schools Of our
State. The old method Of hay.
ing the Legislature select the
school books was attended with
so many Objectionable features
that there arose . general senti-
ment that the selection of school
books should be taken out Of the
hands of the Legislature. The
puEzling question was. Where
to place the power which was
finally decided by putting il
nearest the people. namely. dele
eating the power to a school
book board in each county Of the
State. This is the method that
seems to be generally acceptable
in many States that have expert
mented in different ways. The
new West Virginia law provides
for a school book board compos.
cd of the county superintendent
aed eight other reputable tax
payers of the county. At least
four of the eight shall be free.
holders and not school teachers.
and at least three must be active.
~ engaged in teaching. and shall
hold number one certificate or
its equivalent. Not more than
five shall belong to the same pc.
litical party. They are to be ap.
pointed by the county court for
a term Of four years, such ap.
pointment to be made on or be-
fore the 18th day of next June.
Members are to receive two dol
lars per day, but shall not receive
more than four dollars in any one
year, such amount to be paid out
of the county treasury. 1t will
be the duty of the board to cor
respond with the publishers, in.
viting submission OF samples and
nrices of Textbooks. On or be.
fore the first Monday in August
the board will be required to
meet. organize and proceed to
select and adopt textbooks not
already provided for on such
subjects as are required to be
taught in the schools of the State.
1t will require the affirmative
vote of five members to make
any adoption. Not more than
one book or one series OF books
on one subject can be changed
in any one year, except in the
case Of the failure of a publisher
to provide books. The first
meeting Of this board will be in
August. 1897, at the call Of the
county superintendent. The
books to be contracted for in this
State are principally the speller,
the reader. and arithmetics. The
books selected by the board next
August will be required to be
taught next winter. An arrange
ment is made whereby parties
may dispose of their books when
they move from one county into
another having a different series.
The present depository system
is made optional, that is, where
repositories are already estab.
lished. they may be continued if
the board elect to do so.
In lieu Of the depository sys.
tenn, the boards have the pub.
fishers contract to put the books
on sale, at their own expense. at
places accessible to the citizens.
All adoptions are for a period of
five years.
There will be Hymn Social
at Golf Chapel Friday night. be.
ginning at sp. m. 1t will be
conducted by the ladies OF the
Improvement Club. Admission
25 cents. There will be music
and sacred tableaux. By all
means come. Refreshments free.
Miss May Williams, of Balti.
more. died Monday at her home
10 that city. This young lady
visited the Misses Post and
others, and was well known and
liked by the young folks here.
all of whom will regret to learn
of her early death.