The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-07
Wants Better sschooI Rook-.


To the Editor of The Eagle: The peo-
pie of Wichita are particularly interested
in the effort of the legislative committee
Of the Kansas State Teachers Associa-
ton to secure from the legislature amend
ments Of tbs existing school text book
law. This community has felt the op-
pressive prohibitions of that law severely
Wichita schools have been compelled to
use supplemental books quite literally,
or let the children go uncared for, with
the cheapest and most inferior text books
of the day in their hands. An honored
Wichita educator, Superintendent F. r.
Dyer, is a member Of the committee re-
ferred to, and he has the hearty endorse
n en- tand support of his fellow citizens.
IN this timely effort ito secure for the
people of Kansas the best books of the
day, for the use of their children in the
public schools as Governor Stanley ex-
pressed it In his message to the legisla-
ture.
District ownership and selectior of
text books is better than the boosted
uniformity on which the present law is
formulated Kansas is the only state so
far to adopt ironclad uniformity and in
pronounced it a failure and an oppres-
sion. The State Teachers Association OF
Iowa defeated it whe nsome cheap states
ma ntried 10 make it a law there Dis
trict ownership obviates the danger Of
trashy books, secures the competition Of
the open market III fixing prices; is fex-
ible and stable, and in every respect
much better than state uniformity It
gives the much coveted travelling book
sought by the advocates of state uni
formity, without compelling the people OF
the entire state to use one book for the
benefit Of pupils who may move from
one county to another. District owner
ship has been securely established in
New York Pennsylvania, and the whole
Of New England. In Iowa three-fourths
of the state is under the system. In Wis
consin, Michigan and Minnesota, local
option in selection and ownership of text
books prevails. Nebraska and wyoming
are solid district ownership states.
Under state uniformity many districts
in Kansas have been compelled against
the spirit, II not the letetr, Of the law,
70 buy and use supplemental books. The
state teachers committee are trying to
have the use Of supplemental books legal
lied, so general is the demand for better
text books than are provided IN the
adopted books. This IS the least relief
that they seek We sincerely hope that
they will secure that and the local option
in the ownership and selection OF books.
We still plead for better school text boks
Give the people the broadest leeway IN
IN euse Of supplemental books. while the
ironclad text book law remains; but more
than that, give them freedom from poor
books by adopting a more flexible price
list, or some better provisions than an
established price-list for determining th4
prices. Ifbaralize the law. make It POS
sib,e for the children OF Kansas TO study
the best text books Of the dav. rather
tnan the poorest BOOKS now ooid TO the
public schools Of any state in the union
" hops that the good work begun b.
the teachers committee VIII b-intg r4-ies
To the people. The legislature cannot
wei turn away from the sensible and
popular demands & the teachers Of ths
state. Tey are right. ard sooner or
later they must - rsczoned vtth. sor
the yrenrssent the best thought. tae tss.
citizenship and the best Interests ~ KAN
sas- CITIZEN