The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-16
LETTERS TO EDITOR.
Uniform Text Books for the Schools


 To the Editor of The Age-IIerald
 The just recognition of the capital im- portance of education which Is made in the new constitution and the zeal which the present representatives of the peo- pie are manifesting in fulfilling the high duty of enacting initial and precedential laws. lead us to hope that no nasty or ill-advised action will be taken on any educational issue. Such an issue is the bill now before the legislature advocating uniform text books for the public schools of the state. This bill involves consd- erations of grave import in education and in government alike.
 As a question of government, 1t would deny the people of a community the right of local lfgovernment in an im- portant issue touching the education of their children. If the people have the right to institute local taxation for the support of local schools. by what argu- ment can they be denied the right of local choice of text books? The local communi- ty should have the democratic right of local self-government and control in all matters touching their local welfare; and this is as true In matters of education as in matters of taxation. It is scarce ly conceivable that an enlightened people in a modern democracy would permit to pass from their immediate control the selection of text books that shape the children.
 As question of education, the measure is equally iniquitous It would say: These books shall be taught in the public schools of Alabama, and only these It would establish a censorship of text books. Who, then, would be the censors |? And what assurance would the people possess that these censors would be en- dowed with the two essential qualifica- tions, infallability and uncorrupttbility ? Granted that such censors could be se- cured; where then would be the freedom of the teacher? Has he no rights? The intellectual integrity and the efficiency of a teacher are conditioned upon liberty to teach the truth as he sees it, and to select for himself such text books as present the trutn In his light. This fun damental. right of the teacher the pro- posed law would deny. That every man may worship God according to the dic- tates of his own conscience is a truth of scarcely more moment than that every teacher may teae4l .he truth according to his own understanding. As well prescribe the manner in which God shall be wor- shipped as the mode in which truth shall be taught.
 This proposed law then, would deny the people the right of self-government and local control in a vital issue touching the education of their own children: it would establish a censorship of text books. fet- tering freedom of teaching and placing a stumbling block in the way of progress and. finally, it would usurp the inaliena ole right of the individual teacher to teach the truth in the light of his own under standing.
 The advocates of the measure claim that il will lower the cost of text books Low ering the cost of text books is certainly praiseworthy aim. and one which should receive the Judieious consideration of the people, the representatives of the people. and those to whom education is 4 high l calling. But is the proposed measure the wisest means of attaining the end Would not the law itself be a source of greater evil than those it would renair We deceive ourselves if we believe tha f the evils of the past have died with the past. They still live; but they come in quite different skins. Censorship of the press for the disguised suppression of opinions contrary to the mind of the party in power will scarcely be attempt ed again among Englishmen; but cen sorship of text books under the sophism Of saving and of uniformity is only an old belief clothed in material garb An evil law is law that involves unseen is- sues, and opens the way for evil practices Already the book agents are knocking at committee doors bidding for monouolv or uniform text books. Is monopolv or competition the accepted economic con dition for just prices? Although the argu- ment has not been urged in Alabama. if Is current that uniformity of text bools will lach,ate learning and advance the cause Of truth. Some seem to see in the Idea of uniformity hope of great prom ise. But it is an ancient hope Other
 
 way of righteousness and conformity as the sole means of salvation. History shows the futility of such a hope Lib erty Is the source of progress; and lib- erty has never been through uniformity. Fortunately truth Is not uniform with the books of any age nor quite included within the publications of any text book pub fishing house. Truth will never suffer from a diversity of opinions or of text books
 We are persuaded that neither the plea of saving in cost nor the too fair prom ises of uniformity will prove a valid argu- ment in the minds of the people. The people, in books as we'll as in stocks and bonds have the inalienable right of local self-government and control. It is pro foundy and eternally true that without freedom-witholt the liberty to choose. to reject and. where need is, to innovate- there can be no health in the moral and intellectual life either of the individual or the nation."
 H. O. MCRFEE. Marion Military Institute. February 15, 1903.