Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-11-11
Compulsory State Uniformity in Text Books.

State uniformity in textbooks is a live
issue. and it looks now as If it will play
a part in the present session of the gener-
al assembly OF no mean Importance. If
| our information is correct there are now
| two bills pending. one each before the
house committee on education and the
senate committee. The one in the hands
of the house committee is said to be very
impracticable and no doubt will kill itself.
1t excludes the town and local systems of
| schools from the operation OF its re-
Quirements and seeks to saddle uniformity
| on the rural districts of the state alone.
This bill, IL called a state uniformity
measure, is a misnomer. It should be
dubbed Rural District Uniformity Bill, -
and the average citizen would then recog-
nize It when met in the road. The one the
/ senate committee is considering is proba-
bly, more comprehensive in its scope in
/ that IL seeks to cover town and local sys-
TENS as well as the rural districts.
There is a book problem, it is true, but
it has never been so serious or threatening
as some people seem to think. y 1t is a
| fact that in many instances books are
changed too often, especially the high
school books. In some places they could
be furnished for less money. But these
evils are limited and can be easily cor
rected without the adoption of state uni
| formity. In many counties in the state
these troubles have already been met, and
| today the matter is thoroughly under con-
troll and the children are supplied with
books at absolute cost delivered. In these
counties. as we will show later on, the
| retail price of school books compares most
favorably with those Of the states having
uniformity laws.
That uniformity in the use of textbooks
should obtain within certain definite ter
ritorial limits" there can be no doubt, but
that 1t should extend beyond the county is
a question the wisdom of which has new
er yet been demonstrated, and to say the
least, is full of doubt. uncertainty and
danger. The county limit offers many
advantages. The county is a civil division
OF the state, and under our present law
is the unit OF school government. The
school fund is aPportioned to each eoun-
ty as a unit on the basis Of school popu-
lation. The county has well established
boundary lines and is controlled, so far
as it's educational interests are concerned,
by its own boards OF education the men,
bers of which are elected by it's own grand
jury. The schools in each individual
county are identified with each other in
interest, history, organization, graduation
and requirements. Each county stands
alone in its supervision. The teachers
and patrons OF a county have a common
dependent OF every other county in the
state. The county teachers association
and Institutes have drawn the teachers
together as one in interest and purpose.
THE pedagogical necessity for uniformity
ceases to have force when it is sought to
extend it beyond the territorial unit of
school government, which is also the
scope and erea OF active cooperation be-
tween the people and their school on
GERS, teachers and superintendent" These
and many others that could be mentioned
are strong reasons why uniformity in
textbooks should not be extended in it's
operations beyond the limits of the coun-
t.. .., ,..
What advantages do its adherents claim
for state uniformity?
First. That it win reduce the price Of
books. .-.
Second. That it will prevent the periodi-
cal and frequent changes in books.
Third, That it will save money to the
people who move from one county to an
other.
Fourth. That it is necessary in order to
secure in the state uniform course of
study and instruction, uniform gTadation
and classification. -.,
Fifth, That it provides for competent
Judges in making selection Of books,
Let's examine these arguments and see
IA they are sound:
First, In the light of history state uni
formity has failed in every instance to
reduce the price Of school books. 1t APP
pears to do so by reducing the grade and
character Of the books. 1t is true less
money in some instances is paid out for. a
given number OF books under state uni
formity, but investigation shows that the
uniformity books to be far inferior to the
regular standard. This, of course, neces-
states more frequent purchases, and in
the end a greater outlay OF money.
We give below table OF comparative
cost of school books in the II states that
had adopted the plan up to the time this
table was compiled. which fully demon
strates the proposition that uniformity
does not in fact cheaper school books.
The table is taken from the FLORIDA
School Exponent: