Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-10-13

places where it has been carefully estS-
mated
Q. What is the estimated cost per year
per pupil for textbooks?
a From $3.50 to $3.50 per year per
pupil
@. 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 result OF
frequent changes and because In case OF
removal from one district to another new
books must be purchased in nearly every
instance.
@. Is State uniformity beneficial to the
schools of the State?
A Yes. A uniform course Of study has
been adopted for the schools OF the State
and is in use generally. 1t is much cas-
Ter to put this in operation under a uni
form series of textbooks.
@ Are teachers generally in favor of
uniform course of study?
a Yes. The leading teachers in every
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
n this direction.
Q. Does this law in any way lessen
the efficiency of the schools by prohibit
ng the use of supplementary matter?
A. No. There is the same freedom to
use supplementary matter of all kinds as
before.
Q. How do the books adopted compare
IN size with those formerly in use in the
State?
A. They contain more matter than the
average of the books displaced.
@ Are the adopted books generally
satisfactory?
A
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 Popullst 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 pur-
chased for use in the schools of the
State may be secured under State con-
tract for % per cent. of present prices
Globes, school seats and all school sup
plies may be secured at greatly reduced
prlces-in the aggregate. less than one=
half what is now paid. School supplies
of the very best quality and in album
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 bill
| in the Senate, and that was given by
John E. Hessin, the Republican Senator
from Riley county.
O. How many members of the House
of Representatives voted in favor of the
bill?
A OF the forty-nine Republican merl-
bers in the House, only five voted in IA
vor of the bill.
Q. 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. we 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 NORTH
said in his message, There is no valid
argument against the system of State
uniformity, and where 1t has been tried
it has proven very advantageous"
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 for So
luton.
@. Taking the new textbook law as a
criterion, what political party in the last
Legislature proved itself a friend to the
people?
A Any voter can carefully study the
above facts and answer the question for
himself