The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-02
THE TEXT BOOK QUESTION.

| Several Suuller hicniBuu citicS anu
villages are discussing the question
of text books. If no action is taken at
| their school meeting they come under
| the provision of the new uniformity
| law, and must change their books
whether they wish it or not. If they
wish to remain as they are now, vote
to that effect is necessary, or If they
wish free text books, a vote is necessary.
Certainly u district will be extremely
foolish that permits itself to come un-
der the provisions of the uniformity
law, and be compelled to change its
books before 1t shall know what the
new books are to be, when by vote it
can keep out of the net, until after the
books are adopted and tested, then IL
desired 1t may adopt the uniform plan.
It may thus make intelligent choice,
not take jump in the dark.
A complete change of text books is
an exceedingly expensive experiment,
and should not be foisted upon a dis
trict unthinkingly.
OF all the plans suggested, the cheap
est is the free text book plan. To sup
port this let us give few figures as to
the relative cost of books under the
various plans, in the city of Benton Har-
Dor.
This summary of books includes five
readers, one large written arithmetic,
one mental arithmetic, two books in
physiology, two books in grammar, two
books in geography, drawing books,
two music books, copy books, spoilers,
United States history, civil government
of Michigan.
II school books are purchased new in
every grade while a pupil is passing
through the eight grades of the public
schools, the text books alone, aside
from pens, pencils and tablets, will cost
at retail $27.94 per pupil.
Readers, spoilers, arithmetics, geog-
raphies. physiologies and grammarsare
used during two or three years orgrades
by the same pupil. Buying the books
once while pupil is passing through
the eight grades, the books alone, aside
from pens, pencils and tablets, will cost
at retail S17.70 per pupil.
Quoting prices from the prices as
fixed under the uniformity text book
law, saying nothing about the quality,
If pupil purchases books new in every
grade while passing through the eight
grades of the public schools, the text
books alone, aside from pens, pencils
and tablets, will cost at retail 5000 per
pupil. If bought by the board of educa-
ton under the free text book system,
saving the 90 per cent. to the retailer,
and if bought new in every grade, it will
cost S16.ss per pupil.
Buying the books once while the
pupil is passing through the eight
grades, the books alone, aside from
pens, pencils and tablets, will cost the
board of education under the free text
book system $3.50 per pupil. These fig
ures are given on the supposition that
the pupil keeps the books afterpurchas-
ing as his own. Under the free text
book system the board of education is
the custodian of the books after pupil
has finished book. With proper care
very many of these books can be used
by other pupils. 1t is asserted by three
cities and districts using free text books
that the books cost the pupil from one
third to 40 per cent. of what they now
cost the pupil at retail. Coupling the
free text book system with uniformity
as far as may be best ii is safe to say
that books can be purchased very much
cheaper under the free text book sys-
tenn than under any other.-The Mod
orator.