Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-24
Books Objected To.

What kind Of books are mostly objected
to as to contents?
Histories. readers and supplemental
readers. literature, Biographies, spoilers
and copy books. The following books are
also objected TO because they fail to do
the south justice in many ways: Agricul-
ture. aid to teachers. botany, constitution.
elocution. etiquette, geology, government
and law. kindergarten, logic. mental phil
osophy, microscopy, mineralogy, moral
philosophy and ethics. music, art, natural
history, nature books, pedagogy, physical
education. political economy, question
books. examiners, speakers. zoology.
The public complain Of the expense Of
books. How can this be reduced?
Enough money can be raised in the
south within a week to supply ample funds
with which TO produce the books that will
be not only less expensive. but the diff
ference between the present total cost Of
books per year and the cost when put up
on the proper basis of providing books
would affect partial free book system, so
great would be the saving. and still an in
teresting profit would be shown on the in
vestment OF necessary capital to conduct
the business.
Why don't the people get together and
do this2
This is a natural question. and II has
been asked by thousands OF people, but
the echo seems TO answer, why? To ac-
complish the accumulation of sufficient
funds entails so slight an effort on the
part Of the people that their failure TO
make this effort is beyond comprehension.
Once the people rally TO the support Of
men who are willing TO stand firmly for
the text book side Of education, millions Of
dollars viii be at the service of this great
cause. The future OF the south in the
worlds advancement is involved in this
matter.
For example, what are the difficulties
that are now retarding the necessary re-
forms as 10 school books2
One side Of this problem is patriotic
sentiment, which, while very thrilling, is
wholly useless when wasted In idle talk,
but Is absolutely invincible when assem-
bied in concrete form and Joined with the
practical side-cash.
why not engage in this matter as any
other mercantile proposition?
This is a question asked by those " DO
have never paused TO consider the fact
that books are not mere things Of traffic,
though they are so treated by some pub
fishers. No man who cares for the well
fare Of his people would attempt to solve
this problem on commercial lines simply.
Books Of the right class are only CONNER
/ cial 70 the extent Of legitimate trade. No
book that is unfair. incomplete, or teaches
an innocent child a falsehood should be
tolerated in schools. To treat school books
merely as mercantile articles that consti-
tute a part of school equipment, like chalk
( or ink, Is criminal. Children are helpless,
| and I'm the free schools they are the wards
! Of their commonwealth. Remember this,
for we are surely responsible for them.
\ The day is fast approaching when de-
grading cOmmercialism in the treatment
| Of school books will be scOrned and the
| offenders punished. Southern men are re-
/ solved to have the books used in theiE
/ schools serve as an inspiration in the edu-
/ cation department Of their government
/ and civilization.
The South Has the Talent.
Has the south the necessary talent e
write books? t.ttfts
| II our educational institutions. UNIVERSE
! ties and colleges have failed in all these
years 10 equip men and women with suf-
! ficient accomplishments to enable them TO
I write text books suitable for schools, Il
| Is time their doors should be closed. No
people are intellectually superior 70 cub