Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-12
HOME SCHOOL BOOKS.
THE QUESTION BEFORE THE
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The Virginia Press on the Subject
OF Adopting Textbooks Printed In
Virginia - Some Salient Fofnts
Made.
(Communicated.)


How to Save $4,000 Year for the
People Of Virginia.
We understand that Virginia publishers
are bidding for the Virginia school-oooK
contracts, and are offering splendid
books, endorsed by the ablest ana pest
teachers in this country, and books, 100
that are prepared by our own best teacn-
ers. and offering better quaiity oi
books at far lower prices than have ever
been sold In the State before. They nave
carefully prepared a table showing that
a change in textbooks will save the peo-
DIE not less than $4,000 year, and possi-
bly, 100000, and our children Will De using
books prepared by teachers who are III
sympathy with us, and who realize our
needs instead of textbooks that have
been teaching sentiments entirely at va
rance with our own. True progress lies
along the line of stimulating our teach-
era and authors and encouraging our
mechanics, and we heartily commend the
effort made by Virginia publishers 10 sup
ply our textbooks, especially wheh VIC
take into consideration the great SAVING
they offer. They agree to take up the ola
hooks now in the hands OF the chlldreh
and allow double to three times what
they are worth. They agree to put tneir
books In at far lower prices than were
ever offered heretofore, and we have con-
fidence in the wisdom and judgment OIL
the Education Board Of Virginia. We De-
lieve they will gladly embrace this oppor-
tunity to introduce better and cheaper
books in our schools.-Page Courier.
Question of School Books.
One Of the most important questions
now before the people OF Virginia Is the
selection of a suitable series OF text
books for use In the public schools Tor the
next four years. Heretofore THESE DOCKS
have been supplied almost entirely by
northern houses, and from 100000 TO $780,
600 carried out Of the State every year IN
this way. This year we understand that
publishers in Lynchburg, Richmond, and
probably other leading cities throughout
the State are making an effort to secure
the adoption of textbooks published WITH
in the limits OF the State and prepared
largely by Virginia authors. This Is
grand, good move In the right direction.
1t means the building up OF our home en-
terprses, and ii means the encourage
ment of southern authorship and the
cause of education. We have also the
most positive assurances from some OF
the houses interested in this move that
books will be supplied Virginia at lower
prices than our children have ever been
able to purchase them before. They also
agree 10 take out of the hands OF the
children all Of the old WORKOUT books at
far more than their cash value. In other
words, these parties assure us That the
saving TO the parents OF the children oil
Virginia will average not less than $4,000
a year, and may amount 10 a great deal
more. We hope that the State Board will
aaI, IA To oA mr. unfinished
outside of Virginia that can be made by
our publishers and printers.-The Review
Clifton Forge, Va.).
Virginia Books.
Give Virginia children books by Viz
ginia authors and published by Virginia
firms. We have received from the b. +.
Johnson Publishing Company, Richmond.
a copy OF Lees History of the United
States; Johnson's First Reader and John
sons Prmmer. We have examined these
publications. and they cannot be excelled.
They should be adopted by the State
Board Of Education at their meeting in
Richmond on the 18th of this month for
use in the Virginia schools.-The Gazette
Qexington).
A Virginia Enterprise.
We believe in fostering home industry
OF all kinds, and especially that which
particularly appeals to the intellectually
of our people The y. +. Johnson Pub
fishing Company, OF Richmond, Va, rs
engaged in publishing southern text
books, all the mechanical, as well as In
tellectual, work being done in the South,
the mechanical work, especially in Nir-
ginia. They give out large contracts to
printing firms capable OF handling their
work. in all the Virginia cities. Thus the
bulk of the money received for the books
from Virglnians is redistributed promptly
in nearly every section Of the State, bene-
fitting everybody and adding TO It's
weath-The Daily Record (Staunton
Encourage Southern Authors.
The way to encourage southern authors
is TO adopt and use books by the best
southern writer's. The way to build up
our Industrial and material interest Is TO
encourage your own publishing and print
ing houses. Within the limits Of our own
State are publishing houses who have
spent large sums OF money in preparing
textbooks for use In Virginia schools,
and we are gratiied to learn that the
people throughout the State are over
whemingly in favor of the exclusive adop-
ton Of their publication for use In our
schools for the next four years. They are
not only Offering a better line or text
books. but they are Offering cheaper
BOOKS.
intellectually, materially. and every other
way. we have now a chance TO make
grand step forward in this direction
Bedford Democrat.
1t Means Millions for Virginia.
Very few people realize the tremen-
dous Importance of the issues now at
stake in reference to the adoption Oh
textbooks for use in the schools OF
Virginia. 1t is estimated that about SiOo'-
90 is spent annually in textbooks in our
schools, public and private, as the private
schools as a rule use the books adopted
for use in the public schools. THIS money
is now all sent TO New York, Boston, ana
Chicago We understand the virginia
publishers are Offering to supply better
books at a large saving TO the state.
Thus the money paid by our children Tor
school books will be used in keeping our
mechanics at home employed Inc Sc
curing of the Virginia contracts Will also
enable the Virginia publishers TO reacn
out into other States and secure many
more State and city contracts, aggre-
eating millions OF dollars annually. Thus
the Virginia patronage means the estaD-
lishment OF school-book plants within
the limits of our OWL State which Will
bring from s. TO $lO from adjoining states
for every 81 worth OF books purchased by
Virginia children. The securing or the
Virginia contracts will enable our pub
fishers TO enlarge and extend their opera
tons. 1t is really one OF the most In
dustria1 and educational moves that have
been made for many years, and deserves
the most serious and careful considera-
ton OF our people generaily.-Daiiy Press