The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-18
REVISION ORDERED.
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE)

cOgnlZdnce
ing. and although not desiring to enter
In any way into fight between school
book companies, IL realized that IL would
be the part OF wisdom TO seize time oy
the forelock, especially when quick action
at this time might mean more things than
preservation of a certain standard of effi-
cheney in SCHOOLGIRLS. AS 1t Is now the
running for another five years with no
chance to get in on the contracts.
All members of the State Board of Educa-
ton were present with the exception or
Mr.. Mills of Earlham College. The bust
ness of the meeting was approached by me
presentation OF the reports OF the commit
tees appointed TO consider the necessity Tor
revision of the different texts. The report
of the committee on arithmetics was hrst
presented. IL was made by w. w. Parsons,
liam Lowe Bryan, president of Indiana
University, and Frank w. Cooley, superin-
tendent of schools at Evansville. The re-
port OF the committee is as follows:
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
ION the 14th of last November we were
appointed a committee TO consider and re-
port to the board at its December meeting:
First, whether the publishers of the arith-
metics now in use in the public schools or
the State would consent to such revislons
as the board might think proper to order;
and, second, what revisions in general
would be necessary TO make the books more
acceptable to the board and the teachers
OF the State. We beg to report as foi-
lows:
First-As the correspondence herewith
submitted and made a part of this report
shows. Silver, Burdett K Co., the publish
ers of the arithmetics. express their entire
willingness to make any changes In either
or both of the arithmetics when TINS
board may direct or that will meet the ap-
prevail of the board.
''Second-On educational and economic
grounds the committee Is in favor or re-
tanning the books and contracting for the
same for another period of fve years, III
they can be made satisfactory to the state
Board of Schoolbook Commissioners We
favor the revision and the readoptlon OF
these books upon the following conditions:
II. The responsibility for making the
books acceptable TO the board shall rest
entirely with the publishers and not with
this board or committee or the same.
2. That the omissions, insertions or new
matter of all kinds and all proposed
changes In the books now in use be pre-
sented to the board for its consideration
not later than Jan. l, 1894;
"3. The board expressly reserves the
right to reject the books as revised II. when
submitted at the time named. Jan. i, 1904,
they should not be acceptable. and TO re-
eeive and consider bids from other puDllSn-
ers to furnish texts in arithmetic.
"A. A committee of three shall be APP
pointed by the president of the board 10
confer and advise with the publishers as
the revision proceeds and to serve as a
medium of communication between the pub
fishers and the board. but such committee
shall have no power 10 bind the board IN
accepting any of the changes or revisions
proposed or in the final acceptance or re-
lection of the books.
- If, when the revised books shall be
presented to the board for adoption or re,
lection, 1t shall be considered by the board
impra ctica BILE to use both the revised books
and the old book with the same classes the
publishers shall agree to give an exchange
price of Is cents on the elementary arith-
metic and 80 cents on the advanced arith-
metic."
REVISION OF READERS.
The committee on readers was made up
of ]. N. Study, superintendent of schools
at Fort Wayne, Frank l.. Jones. state SUI
perintendent, aud G. w. Woriey, superin-
tendent of the Kosciusko county schools.
The report follows:
I'VE. your committee to whom was re-
ferred the matter of the revision of the In
diana readers, would respectfully report
that We have taken care TO investigate the
merits and dement's of the readers in ques-
ton, and to ascertain the opinions or edu-
Gators concerning them.
I'VE report that i'm the opinion of your
committee the first and second readers need
thorough revision to mt them for the
present and future needs Of the schools.
I'VE find that the fourth and fifth read
ers, lately revised, meet with general ap-
prevail, but that the third reader In some
quarters is considered rather difficult for
the classes to which IL is usually assigned,
and that complaint Is made of the gap be-
tween the third reader and the Seoond r yanr
committee this may be remedied by such
revision of the second reader as shall bring
and perhaps few notifications Of the first
part of the third in order to render the
transition from the second TO the third
easy and natural.
''The opinion of the committee is that the
readers may be revised so as to afford TO
the schools of Indiana as acceptable
series of readers the prices set by law
Will allow. The. publishers OF said readers
agree to make such revision of the first
and second readers and such modification
of the other readers as shall be demanded
by the board"
BETTER BIOGRAPHIES.
The committee on Biographies, made up
of Calvin n. Kendall, superintendent of the
Indianapolis schools, w. K. Stone, presi-
dent of Purdue University, and w. T. Stott,
president of Franklin College, follows:
Your committee on Biographies, to
whom was referred the ACCESSIBILITY OF the
revision of the present textbooks in use
In the schools of the State begs leave 10
present the following report:
Your committee has examined the books
with some care and has endeavored 10 as
| certain the opinion of teachers relative
thereto. While criticisms have been made
upon the books. more particularly upon the
advanced book, many of which your COM
| mittee recognizes as just or merited, yet
| we believe that on the whole the books are
| giving relatively good satisfaction.
Your committee believes il Is practicable
| to revise the books, making the changes
| which will meet objections raised and other
| changes deemed advisable by your commit
| tee, all of which will make the books more
serviceable to pupils and teachers.
Your committee reports that the changes
| or revisions Ii deems necessary have been
| made known to the publishers of the books.
| who have agreed to make whatever
| changes or revisions this board may deem
| necessary.
| your committee. therefore reports that
| il believes that a change in textbooks in
| geography is inadvisable at this time. and.
| further that upon condition of the satisfac-
| tory revision of the books IL recommends
| their continuance In the schools of the
State"
1t was then moved by President Parsons
| that a revision of the Cook-CropSey arith-
/ metics be ordered and that an advisory
! committee of three be appointed by the
| chair for consultation with the publishers,
| provided that neither the committee nor
| the Board of Education be committed TO
| the adoption of the revised books unless
| they shall be made satisfactory TO the
| board on or before Jan. l, 1904, and pro-
vided, further. that satisfactory exchange
conditions be made in case the revised
| books cannot be used in classes with the
! old books.
Similar motions were made as to a re-
vision of the readers by Superintendent
/ by President Stone and as to a revision
of the copybooks by State Superintendent
| Jones. The motions were passed without
a dissenting vote.
/