People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-10-13

places where il has been carefully eSte>
mated
Q. What is the estimated cost per year
per pupil for textbooks?
A. From $3.50 to $3.50 per year per
pupil.
q. What portion of this will be saved
Oy the textbook law?
A. Over one-half. Tons OF unused
textbooks are lying around in the
homes of the State because a new set Of
books must be purchased as 4 result Of
frequent changes and because IN case OF
removal from one district to another new
books must be purchased in nearly every
instance.
Q. Is State uniformity beneficial TO tho
schools of the State?
A. Yes. A uniform course Of study has
been adopted for the schools Of tn State,
and is in use generally. 1t is much cas-
Ter to put this in operation under uni
form series of textbooks.
Q. Are teachers generally in favor Of q,
uniform course of study?
A. Yes. The leading teachers in everys
State in the Union are advocating this
idea and are doing their utmost to have
State course Of study adopted and used.
Closer supervision and more thorough
grading of the schools is favored by all.
Uniformity of textbooks is a great aid
in this direction.
Q. Does this law in any way lessen
the efficiency of the schools by prohibit
ing the use Of supplementary matter?
A. No. There is the same freedom to
use supplementary matter of all kinds as
before.
@ How do the books adopted compare
in size with those formerly in use in the
State?
A. They contain more matter than tho
average of the books displaced.
O. Are the adopted books generally
satisfactory?
A. Yes. So much so that the larger
companies whose books were displaced
have ceased to attack them as when first
adopted Comparison and more careful
investigation is bringing them more into
favor.
Q. What is meant by the demand in
the Populist platform for an extension Of
the textbook law?
A. Assurances have been given by
leading manufacturers of maps and
charts that the same articles now DUR
chased for use in the schools OF the
State may be secured under State COM
tract for 20 per cent. Of present prices,
Globes school seats and all school sun
plies may be secured at greatly reduced
prices-in the aggregate, less than one
half what is now paid. School supplies
of the very best quality and in abun-
dance to supply all the needs of all the
schools may be obtained for much less
than is now paid to supply part Of the
school with part of what they need
Q. What political party opposed the
school book measure while it was pend
ing in the Legislature in 1897?
A. The Republican party.
Q. In which branch of the Legislature
was the bill most strenuously fought?
A. In the House OF Representatives.
There was but one vote against the bin
in the Senate, and that was given by
John E. Hessin, the Republican Senator
from Riley county.
@. How many members Of the House
Of Representatives voted in favor Of the,
bill?
A. OF the fnrty-nine Republican mem
bers in the House. only five voted In fa>
vor Of the bill
@. Had not the Republicans previ~
ously declared in favor OF a school text>
book law?
A. Yes. In 1890 they said in their plat.
form, I'VE are in favor Of uniformity In
textbooks in all the schools Of the State
and demand such legislation as shall
procure by contract or otherwise the
best standard books at the least possible
cost" Again in 1895 Governor Morrill,
said in his message, "There is no valid
argument against the system OF State
uniformity, and where it has been tried
it has proven very advant3 geOus"
O. Why did the Republican party turn
tail on its former teachings along this
line?
A. The question is respectfully re-
ferred to the voters of the State Tor So
luton.
@. Taking the new textbook law as q
criterion, what political party in the last
Legislature proved itself friend 10 the
people?
J A. Any voter can carefully study the
above facts and answer the question for
himself
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