The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-19
A SERIOUS CHARGE
MADE BY Mr.. EDWARDS
Alleges Unauthorized Substitution
of a Text Book in High Schools.
President Barney Makes Denial

Another controversy now seems immi-
| nent in the school committee, and this
time 1t is over the question OF text books,
OF rather over the method OF their selec-
| ton.
| Mr.. Stephen o. Edwards, member OF
the school committee from the second
! ward. and n member Of the committee on
| high schools, makes a very direct state
ment regarding the purchase and subsu-
tuition of one variety of text books with
out, he says, any authority.
Mr.. Edwards says in substance: AT
the beginning OF the present school year
a change was made in the algebra used
in our public schools This change has
caused much unfavorable comment on
the part OF teachers and others interest
ed in educational work.
''rhe methods by which a text book
which had been used for years, and is APP
proved by the entire teaching force, was
rejected from the schools and another.
which was not asked for nor approved by
the teachers. was substituted al a consid-
cradle expense TO the city, seems to jus
tify the charge too frequently made that
considerations other than educational die
tate the choice OF text books for our
schools.
Educators are interested in having the
best text books which the publishers
bring out. Taxpayers are interested that
changes be made only when the educa-
tional interests OF the schools demand
them.
THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION.
''The elaborate code OF bylaws which
has been enacted by the school committee
for its government provides that the
high school committee shall recommend
TO the school committee such class text
books as they deem II desirable to be
adopted, and shall determine what books
and publications shall be purchased for
supplementary use
i'In the exercise of the power thus con-
ferred the high school committee, at
meeting held May %, 1899, adopted reso-
luton providing that Wentworth's alge-
bra. published by Messrs. CHM & Co. OF
Boston, be placed upon the list Of supple
mentary books for use in the high schools.
"As the proposed action was somewhat
unusual, member OF the committee in
uuired as TO it's expediency, and the
answer was given that IL would simply
permit teachers who desired an additional
book for examples TO use the book In
question.
AT the beginning Of the school year in
September, 1899. Wells algebra was the
properly authorized text book, and Went
worth's new algebra was on the supple
mentary list.
Notice was given through the officer
who purchases text books for the city to
some of the teachers early in the school
year that IL was proposed to substitute
Wentworth's for Wells algebra. Decided
objection was made by certain teachers
10 the proposed cf lge on the ground that
the tevt book to Dc subs 'tuted was in
fcrior TO that in use, ant hat the latter
was in every way satisfactory 10 the
tusching force.
These objections apparently prevented
fcriher action at that time Later I'm the
fall or early winter IL became known to
certain persons in close touch with scho0I
affairs that some one had purchased 500
welaworth's ai,ebras for the city.
d. WHO ORDERED PURCHASE?
'These books. | am informed were
never asked for by any principal or
teacher in our high schools. and they
were never ordered by the high school
committee, who have the sole right 10 de-
termine what books and publications shall
be purchased for supplementary use.
"The officer whose duty IL is TO purchase
books under the direction Of the commit
tee on high schools can perhaps tell un-
der whose instructions he made his pur-
chase.
"was Il by order OF the chairman OF
the committee on high schools. or was
1t by order of the president OF the school
committee?
Upon the opening of schools in Seutem-
Der last the teachers were surprised to
learn that Wentworth's algebra had been
placed in all the schools and Wells al
zebra had been removed from three of
the high schools, and teachers were in
structed by the purchasing agent that
they were TO use the new algebra. The
change in text books was thus consum-
mated ... ,t
Prom principals of the high schools IN
Is learned tnat IL no change had been
made. the city would have been required
to purchase so Wells algebras for the
present year. IL the figures have been
correctly given, something more than 1000
OF the new algebras were required.
'I do not know the cost OF these new
books, but competent authorities esu-
mate their cost AZ Introduction prices at
81 per copy. or $1,000 in the aggregate. l
DO not know whether anything was re-
ceived for the old books. The result OF
the change, therefore, may be stated as
follows:
'"rhe teachers have by unanimous con-
sent a less satisfactory text book for use
with their classes. and the city has been