Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-20
ALTOGETHER ONE SIDED
Superintendent Markss Tribune Article Met at Every Point and
Reuted BY Dr. c. F. WiIcox-Markss Misleading
Figures Shown in Their True Light

To the Editor:
In this mornings Tribune there Is an
article signed by VIM. $. Marks, wrong
~ attacking the News and giving
figures that are misleading. The art-
Gle il headed Somewhat one Sided"
but from the standpoint OF actual fact
It is altogether one sided, as will pres
emily appear
Mr. Marks places the list of books
adopted by the city alongside those
adopted by the state for purposes Of
comparison. He gives the prices in each
column His purpose is to create In the
mind Of the public the impression that
the city has been more extrayagant
than the country. II is very adroit
but unfair proceeding In Salt Lake
City. II will be noticed there are -four
histories adopted The casual obsery-
er. in looking at Mr. Marks list would
merely notice that the sum total OF the
cost OF histories IN the city would foot
up $3.50. Turning to the state. he
would notice that the total cost Of the
two histories is only 81 so This would
seem TO be q point strongly in favor
OF the state. AS a matter OF fact, UNI
der the free textbook plan employed In
Salt Lake. the boaru adopts several
histories under the plan known as the
open list" which mean that supply
OF several books is purchased one kl,I
being used IN one section OF the city
and anothernn another. For instance,
a half dozen schools would use Thorn
ass history, another half dozen Fisks's,
another half dozen McMasters and so
on. These books can be changed about
from school 10 school, thereby giving
children the advantage Of TWO or three
histories with no added expense what
ever to the public In the country. on
the other hand, this Is not possible. as
no I d cen be asked to purchase more
than one book The action Of the salt
Lake city board In adopting four his
tories was taken In the interest OF econ
omy. No one knew this better than
Mr. Marks. He simply resorted to the
shrewd device OF placing the two coli
umns side by side. without comment, So
as TO mislead the general public.
He has done the same thing regard.
Ing readers, placing the three series
adopted by the city along side the one
series adopted by the state. In geog-
raphy he has placed the two series
adopted by the city along side the one
adopted by the state In writing. he
has placed the four series adopted by
the city alongside the two series
adopted by the state.
II this had been done by some per-
son unfamiliar with text books and
educational methods It might be con-
sidered a mstake but in the case OF
Mr. Marks, who Is a superintendent OF
schools and has been through two text
book fights that In 1897 and the one
just completed Is II anything but
deliberate attempt 10 mislead? Even
II this were not apparent on the sur-
face. his own language conveys tha
same impression In his communica-
ton he says: THE state adopted the
Thomas history: so did the city But
besides the Thomas the city adopted
the Fiske and McMaster histories
as wen Tho city adopted three
for the upper grades and the
state adopted but one" OF course,
he speaks the truth In this paragraph.
but the impression conveyed Is false.
namely tnat e0cn chlld IN the city mas
10 buy three or four histories As
matter OF fact no child IN the city |
buys any history because the city |
furnishes them But under the wise |
md economical plan Of "open list" in |
iuRurated by the city board each |
child gets the benefit Of several his
tories AT an expense TO the city OF only /
one history per child. The books are |
simply shifted around from building 10 /,
building The same principle holds /
true OF the readers. Biographies. etc.
Special mention was made by the /
News Of the wise selection OF geo.
granhes here IN the city This seems
10 BE- o sore point with Mr.. Marks
nm Informed that this was the book
ipon which the trust" centered an ]
rs strength in the state convention.