Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-02-08
TEXT BOOK REFORM
DAILY Bill Presents Some Points
Of Difference.
In What Particulars the Proposed Act
Differs From the Present
Law,

law text books are adopted by the 80
county superinteudents OF the state,
and the nine members Of the state
board Of examiners, making Al persons
in all to vote. The 80 county superin-
tendents are elected by the people
every two years. The nine members
of the state board Of examiners are
appointed by the state snperlnteud-
ents every four years aud confirmed by
the state board OF education. The law
does not fix any limit to the number
Of state examiners,so that 20, 30, 40 or
more may be legally appointed. The
state superintendent is therefore
largely responsible for the result of
the adoption Of text books. The at
tention he must necessarily give TO
this question consumes time that
should be devoted TO other work. The
proposed law will relieve him entirely
OF responsibility for text books pro-
vlded for the state, so that his whole
time may be given to strictly ed lca-
tlonal matters
Under the proposed law the text
books will be adopted by five text
book commissioners TO be appointed
by The governor from different sec
tions OF the state. To remove teach
ers and school officers from politics,
and to protect teachers from any
adverse influence that publishing
houses may exert in such manner as
to jeopardi2e their positions, II Is pro-
posed TO appoint, as textbook com
misslOners, persons who are not
officially connected with the public
school systems, or with any Of the
state schools of advanced grade. II
IL presumed that commissioners will
be named who are we'll qualified TO
Judge OF the merits OF text. books, and
who will be able TO make better
bargain for the state than could be
made by school officers and teachers
There are business and professional
men In all sections OF the state, many
Of whom have been teachers, who are
we'll qualified TO select textbooks. A
textbook commissioner may, OF course
co:fer with teachers regarding the
comparative value OF different books,
TO such extent as he may deem neces-
sary.
The second clause The present law
and the proposed law are practically
the same with regard TO clrculars-to
publishing houses, etc.
The third clause-Under the present
law those who select textbooks vote
at their homes, taking from one TO
four months to make up and forward
their ballots TO the state board OF edu.
cation. Publishing houses have
ample time and opportunity TO 90
from one person TO another until all
OF the Al who adopt books are coaxed
or badgered or coerced into voting,
whether fully prepared TO do so OF
their own accord or not.
Under the proposed law the live
textbook commissioners will meet at
the state capitol, Jointly discuss text
books for period OF not less than Is
days, and adopt books TO be used in all
schools OF the state for six years. IL
is belIeYed that this plan will result
In better books, at lower prices, than
IL has been possible TO obtain under
the present method.
The fourth clause Under the pres
ent Law the branches included In
schools Of any grade are not enumer-
ated. In an evident attempt 10 In
clude all books that'may be required
In the schools, those who adopt text
books have been in the habit Of adding
many supplementary books TO such
as are properly classed as school texts.
The people OF the state are In this
way deprived OF the benefit OF COM
petition between publishing houses
who offer supplementary books on all
subjects, at extremely low prices.
Under the proposed law the branches
TO be included 10 both common
school aud a high school course will
be specified. Tue textbook commits.
siOners will adopt books In accordance
with the requirements OF the differ
enL grades and courses OF study, but
will not be permitted 10 Odopt supple
mentary DO ks. School patrons will,
therefore. have the advantage of sharp
competition among publishing houses,
in buying such supplementary books
as may be required.
The provision Of the proposed law
empowering the text book commits
sioners 20 go outside Of books sub
miJted by publishing houses Is de-
signed to prevent cOlluslon OF such
houses to keep prices up; one house
Offering readers, another arithmetics,
another grammers, and so on through
the list, all OF them at such eXtravl-
CANT prices as publishers might agree
upon.
Clauees, 8, 6, 7, s an1 9-The present
law and the proposed law are
practically the same with re-
gard TO submitting books for adoption
contract aud bood, circulars OF To-
formation % school officers, the adOp-
tlOn OF textbooks for special branches
added by local boards 20 the studies
taught 10 their respective schools, etc.
The tenth cause.-the provisions
OF the proposed law, as set forth In