The record-union., 1898-04-28

previous conditions, and it was adopted
into the Constitution. He liked some
parts of the report. but he wished to
protest against this onslaught on the
State books. The first readers were not
good, but the revised ones are, and. SO
far as his county is concerned, there
is no complaint against them. The
grammar has been revised and when
the work was being done, the State
board sent copies of it to the various
Superintendent and prominent educat-
ors, and their opinions of it and sug-
gestions on it were asked He consid-
cred it a most excellent work. So are
the revised readers. They are excellent
| in reading matter and in the literature
they call attention to- He wanted to
say that the mistake made by the State
in the first start has resulted in Civ
ing to the State the best set of books
in use in any State. 1t has resulted in
putting into the school libraries thous-
ands of supplemental books as aids,
with the greatest benefit to the pupils,
who have in no instance been COM
PEELED to buy them.
He believed that the first mistake had
resulted in giving to the teachers and
in existence. He thought the resolu-
lions would do great harm. He had no
doubt most of the superintendent pres
ent had been asked for advice and sug-
gestions on the books If they are not
good, it is the fault of such Superin-
tendents, and they should not criticise
them. The State printing it's own text
books has also forced private publish
m mt int
books possible in order to keep a hold
on the market. He favored the amend
ment, and hoped it would be adopted.
superintendent Nelson said the Con-
stitutiOn provides that the State shall
print the books and there was no neces-
sity for the amendment What the res
buttons asked for was better books
superintendent Erlewine said that
may be true, but there is much in the
opinions of members of the committee
that is not in the report. If the
amendment is in accordance with the
Constitution, why is it objected to?
He believed we can get better books
published by the State than from any
other source. Before the State pub
lished its text books it was known that
better terms could be obtained in in
ferlor books than on good ones. We
might get better bargain in price than
the State books, but not in quality
OUR SCHOOLS THE BEST.
Superintendent COndit of Eureka said
that he had been for five years teach
ing and as superintendent in the State,
and had been using the books alluded
to as "despised" California schools
stand supreme in q certain way, and it
seems right for the State to print its
text books. He had taught for many
years in Ohio and Indiana. and the
country schools in this State are far
superior to those in the East The city
schools, however, are not so good. Our
State books are not looked on in the
East with the contempt that they seem
to be here, but are thought to be good
books, and so they are. The arithmetic
is good book, and he had had excel
lent success in teaching from it. SO is
the history good, and any one who con-
dennis it does not know how to teach
history. He had had success with both
books. He did not think the opposition
could find SO much fault with the other
books. He was sure that certain gem
tlemen were not opposing the books
from the motives attributed to them, for
the corporations that print the books
can make just as much money out of
their supplementary works to satisfy
them all. The best text books with a
good teacher, can be only reference
books and a text to teach from. The
State books he said, cost less than
those of any other State.
SCHOOLS HAVE PROGRESSED.
superintendent Smith of Placer said
he heartily approved of the States pub
fishing xtbOOkS. He believed that
the schools of California are the best in
the country, and have made their pres
ent progress since the State commenced
publishing the textbooks Before that
there was a continual change, and now
there is a great saving. Children do
not need to buy a supply of supplement-
airy books, as they can be purchased
and put in the library. Why does the
convention wish to tell the people it is
not in favor of the States past work?
1t is in the interest of the children to
maintain the system.
GIVING THEM A CLUB.