The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-06
AUDIENCEszITo AGENTS.

After the board had disposed of sew
eral matters of0roItlne business, Chair
man Fry, Of the text books committee,
stated that the report of the committee
was ready, but there were in the ante
room number. of representatives of
publishing houses who desired to be
heard by the board and he would rec
ommend that they be heard at this time.
Accordingly the board granted an audi
ence to each in turn, and heard argu-
ments in favor of Snyder 81 Shattuck's
medal writing books; Walshs arithme-
tics, published by d. c. Heath & CO.;
Halls arithmeties, published by the
Werner Book company; Baldwin's read
ers, published by the American Book
company Stepping Stones to Literal
ture, published by Silver, Burdett &
Co, and the modern music series, which
was represented by Prof. Congdon, for
merly supervisor of music In the St.
Paul schools. Prof. Congdon found him
self in a rather embarrassing position,
from the fact that the system of muse
in use at present is one which he recon-
mended while supervisor here, but he
neatly eXtricated himself by stating that
since that system had been adopted the
new one, which he had come to ad-
vocate, had been published, and he re-
garded the new one as the better.
The system of school readers, known
as Steps to literature of which the
authors are Prof c. B. Gilbert former
ly superintendent of schools of this city,
and Miss Arnold, formerly of the Min
neapolis schools, was advocated by Col
Charles Johnson, formerly of Mime
apolis and for some years clerk OF the
United States senate. Col. Johnson's adj
pretentious than those of the others and
occupied more time.
After the Representatives of the pub
fishing houses had finished the board
took up the report of the committee.
The first change made was in the sys-
TEN of penmanship, +Ginn's Medal slant
copy books being substituted for Barnes.
Then came the question of readers for
use in the graded schools, Baldwin's be-
ing stricken from the list and Harpers,
which are now in use and have been foc
twelve years past, being adopted for
term Of three years more. Before the
close Of the meeting, however. E. D.
Zimmerman gave notice of a motion to
reconsider the vote by which the Harper
readers were adopted to be taken up at
the next meeting OF the board.
The recommendation Of the superin-
tendent and the committee on text books
that the natural method of music be
retained, was adopted against the votes
of Inspectors Waite and Bassford, who
favored the modern system, which
teaches music technically.
When the question of arithmetic was
taken up Inspector Waite wanted the
Walsh system retained on the ground
that a change would increase the .ex-
pense of books Is per cent Other mem
bers and the superintendent stated that
the Walsh system had not been satisfac-
tory and was generally unpopular 1t
was also set forth that Halls arithmetic
had been placed on the list for gradual
Introduction, and Walsh's were still au-
thorized until such time as the pupils
should require new books, or be enabled
to exchange their old ones for new ones.
MIR. Waite, however, moved to adopt the
Walsh system Internationally. and to
the exclusion of the Hall system. When
the vote was taken on Mr.. Waite's mo-
ton, it was found that Inspectors Bass
ford and E. o. Zimmerman had voted
with him in favor of it, and inspectors
Egan, Savard and Fry against it. The
president asked Mr.. Waite to explain his
proposition, and being informed that Mr.
Waite wanted the Walsh system uncon-
ditionally adopted. he cast the deciding
vote against the mo ton. A vote TO adopt
the recommendation of the committee
was then passed by similar division of
the members 20
CHANGES IN HIGH SCHOOL BOOKS.
In the high school course, HoadIey's
physics was substituted for carhart &
Chute's, and Redway's biographies In
the graded schools. for Storer & Lind
says.
Among the new books added are: Ber-
gems elementary botany; 1.-The Human
Body Martini Emergency Notes."
domestic science, Butler; "Home Nur-
sing" Harrison Elements of Cookery"
Williams & Fisher; Comstock's as
tronomy; Brighapns geology; Myers Eu-
ropean history: ADAMS European his
tory; History of England, Larned;
students History Charming; Civil
Government" FiskeS-
An applicad ton from the teachers OF
the seventh and eighth grades for an in
crease in the maximum salary for their
grades to $50 per month was referred to
the committee on schools, as was a petit
ton of similar import signed by num-
Der Of the principals.
The superintendent statistical report
for May showed the following figures: