Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-26
FREE 1lxs BOOK DISCUSSION.


There has been considerable differ.
ence OF opinion over the recent action
Of the city board 81 education in de.
Gliding that for the present the high
school pupils will not be furnished
text books free. The basis OF this &C.
ton is that the city school district has
not the funds to expend in that direc-
ton, the interests OF the grade schools
requiring the use OF all casn available
at the present time.
Apropos OF this matter Is the view
taken by the late Illinois legislature
ON this same subject, wherein the
legislative senate committee on educs-
ton took adverse action on the propoeed
free text book law In that state, and
killed the measure. In discussing the
| subject, the Chicago Chronicle *.
pressed the view held by consider
able majority of the Illinois Legislators,
and by the press and public there,
with lew exceptions, as tn 80 views
were given through the newspapers.
| This was that the free text book bill
was peEnioious measure, carrying
the community forward In direction
which threatens destruction OF iudi.
vidualism and self-respect; that the
public school scholar is no more en-.
titled 10 free school books than he 10
entitled to free shoes, free ride to
and from scho olhouse, free medical
attendance when Ill; that II an educa.
tion Ia worth having IL Is worth pay
ing Tor as far as may be necessary to
pay for 81; that the public had taxed
itself generously and overtsxed Itself,
10 maintain free public schools; and to
pile upon the expense already incurred
that OF providing every child who
attends these schools free 10 them
in all else with the books and utensilp
used In the course OF years educa.
ton would have bren wrong 10 the
state snd 10 the IT. diviGuRl who would
be the forced recipient OF such charity,
ana would also be an injustice to the
very great number oil parents who,
contributing according TO their tax
ables to the maintenance OF the public
: school establish ment, do not use that
! establishment at all. To this The
} Chronicle ADDS:
There is an attempt on the part o.
/ educators to magnify their Office at the
expense of the people. They wish tC
l ttsifl nj
, sorts OF fads and they think the publ,
I | will stand the imposition. The public
is indeed patient. II is patient even Il,
I the camel. But the last straw came anC
. broke tho cancels back and as pro
Queer the camel was of no further &C
count. Professional educators should
D beware OF zeal without discretion auC
, extravaganza that becomes destructive
( So far as concerns the view that tn,
6 furnishing OF free text books threaten
/. obstruction OF individuAlism and sci
= respect, and is no more appropriate TO-
i a public school scholar than are fire.
u rides, ETC., the NEWS cannot agte,
= with the Illinois IDEA at all, for tbI
Z reason that the latter displays exces
4 sive pettlshness aud selilshnes1. Car
c rying to It's logical conclusion the
t, argument as presented in our Chicsg q,
u contemporary, it would apply &
b res schools as well az ire
u text books, ald thus eharsoterlza
e those who tase that positiol
@ as adverse to the public school system
!. II not worse. 1t may be true that
n on education is worth having 1t
" worth paying for as far as may b
% necessary. And TO luru the point g
q the Illinois people, the education {
~ children Is worth having by q sat