Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-11-11

lence of the rural teachers as an evidence
of their supreme Indifference regarding
the matter. But this idea is erroneous,
as canvass of the rural school teachers
would demonstrate.
T. The complaint coming from parents
as to the great number of school books
they are compelled to buy is, in a very
large measure, groundless. 1t grows
mainly out of ignorance-want of infor-
nation touching the needs of each pro-
gressive step upwards by grades-and an
innate disposition to grumble. Numbers
and numbers of parents think the board
of education has had a secret meeting
and made another change in TIE cc@nty
school books, whenever they are asked to
buy for their children new books to meet
the requirements of higher classes to
which the children have been promoted.
s. State uniformity lis found in none
of the older states where public education
has reached its highest development"
g.. While it Estate uniformity is in
separately accompanied by numberless dis
advantages, dangers, and evils all pecu-
liarly its own, ii does not remedy a sin
gle existing evil that could not be as eff
fectually met by other means without any
, of the Objectionable features that ham,
per state uniformity
10. During the year 1898 nearly every
county in the state made radical and
sweeping changes from old to new text
books, adopting modern and most excel
lent books This change alone, as mat
ter OF fact, necessitated quite an expendi-
ture on the part of school patrons. These
new books are not yet thoroughly in use,
a great many of them having been in
troduced gradually, and if not interfered
with by state uniformity measures. it
can be safely estimated that the adoptions
made in 1898 Will in the main stand for II
or 10, and perhaps 20 years. So close
upon the heels Of that sweeping change
made by a large majority of the counties,
another wholesale change such as would
certainly be necessitated by a state uni
formity measure would be the height of
folly.
IL. Four out of the five members COM
posing the book commission appointed by
the legislature in 1896 to study this ques-
ton and report at the next session, OPP
posed state uniformity
L. The question has been asked: "Who
is to be benefited If this measure is en-
acted?" And the answer has come back:
mot the school officials, not all the poll
ticians, not the school patrons. Then it
must be to the interest of some publish
ers." 1t is reported that Hon. Seab
Wright, the champion of the measure last
year, has abandoned his position as a re-
suit OF the discovery that it is nothing
more than a fight between publishers.
H. 1t is indeed a significant fact that of
all the people interested in the success
OF the pending state uniformity bill who
have figured in the lobby or appeared be-
fore any of the committees in the legisla-
ture to advocate its passage not a single
teacher or school official perhaps, could
be found among the number \
a. If either of the pending measures is
enacted 1t will not become operative until
the expiration of the present book con-
tracts throughout the state With a ma
jority of the counties this will occur dur
ing 1903. This being true, why such haste
to saddle this measure on the state? In
the face of developing facts and accumu-
lating experiences of other states who
are now engaged in. trying to determine
the practicability of the measure, would
it not be wise for Georgia to wait and
watch at least until the present contracts
expire? We think so. ..- -t.
Is. 1.-THE authority to prescribe text
books involves the right to say what sys-
tenn of instruction shall be pursued and
what sentiments or principles shall be
taught in the education OF our children
When the people surrender this to the
state or government they surrender the
dearest rights belonging to freemen of
any age or country.
16. In many of the states where unifor-
nifty has been tried the measure has been
repealed All that is necessary to demon
strate it's impracticability and failure is
trial. but we wish to save Georgia the ex-
pense and confusion of a trial.