The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-03


sic, and this letter is on file somewhere
in this department.
Objects to Majority Report.
In fairnes to ourselves and the peo-
pie of the city, let us get on a firm
foundation on the text book question
and not always be subject to the trust.
Let us carefully consider the books Of
fered and then gradually make
changes, putting aside the plea that 1t
VIII be too costly to the citizens to
make changes. 1t Is not costly to dis
place obsolete, abstract and useless
text books. / hope that the board will
refuse to adopt the majority report
where lit refers to the studies / have
enumerated"
The roll call on the adoption of the
majority report as to grade books
showed that Inspector Holman alone
voted in the negative
The report as to high school books
followed, and Inspector Holman again
objected, saying that Prof. Weitbrecht,
of the Mechanic Arts, and Prof. Farms
worth, of the Cleveland, had not made
recommendations.
They both assure me personally
that they have not been invited to pre-
sent recommendations" said Mr.. Hol-
man.
Supt. Smith coIored perceptibly when
this statement was made, and, arising,
responded with some warmth.
Both principals mentioned have
been repeatedly requested to send in
their recommendations. I am very sor-
ry this question has arisen
The reports having been adopted, In
spector Fisher stated that he thought
1t but right that he should make a
statement, and proceeded to address
President Holman, insinuating that the
president had overstepped his prerog
atives in appearing before a recent
meeting of the principals of the
schools. Said Inspector Fisher:
Inspector Fisher Answers.
''It seems that there has been a great
amount of unnecessary agitation about
this matter, and also concerning the
holding of executive meetings, it being
well known to the members of the
board that it is practically impossible
to transact the business of the board
in public. 1t seems that our worthy
president exceeded the usual liberty
accorded such a position when he ap-
peared before the principals and made
remarks that should only be made at
meetings of the board. Numerous
questions have been raised to discredit
the board apparently, and believe that
the other members of the board will
agree with me when say it is the duty
with the principals, and through the
superintendent the reports of the prin-
cipals and teachers should always
come. 1t is improper, I conceive, for
any member of this board to discredit
the other members by talking of Sc
cret sessions
But l was invited by the superin-
tendent to address the principals" de-
clared President Holman.
"RIlf Won oaun he
the hoard has been guilty of some acts
that they were afraid would see the
light of day." answered Inspector
Fisher.
At--the request Of Inspector Fisher,
Supt. Smith was invited to tell his
connection with the report Of the text
book committee. Prof. Smith answer
ed briefly that he had prepared the
report at the request of DIR. Fry, and
did SO willingly, believing that he was
more familiar with the text book
question than were the members of
the board
Inspector Lindahl explained that
while he voted for the majority report,
he would not have done so If the board
had sufficient money to introduce free
text books. He voted for the report
because it made few changes in the
books now in use.,
:. DR.. Fry said that he had relied upon
Supt.-a Smith, and did not believe his
confidence had been misplaced.
inspector Boeringer had no apollo
giles to make, believing that the public
would indorse the action of the board.
Books Adopted by the Board.
The report of the committee as
adopted holds that changes in text
books should be made only where the
books or series of books in use are so
inferior that teachers and pupils alike
are hampered and inconvenienced.'
In the grades but two changes were
made, and the only one of Importance
was as to copy books. Abbott's Elect
i've System of Copy Books, published
by Newson & Co., displaces the Medal
copy book, published by CHM & Co.,
and Stowell's physiology, books l and
2, published by Silver, Burdette & Co..
displaces Smiths Physiology, publish
ed by the American Book company,
this latter being the book to which
President Holman referred in such
scathing language in his speech be-
fore the board All other grade books
remain as they are at. present, the
American Book company securing a
renewal of the contract to furnish most
of the books for which there is a large
sale. The st. Paul Book and Station
cry company secured the contract to
tAuA QIdWI11S 1OlIOSs composition
folios, composition books and compo-
sition tablets; Wright, Barrett & Still
we'll for language tablets, and Brown,
sTreacy & Sperry company for music
writing books.
The change as to high school books
were: Wentworth's Surveying, pub
Hshed by CHM & Co., takes. the place
of Raymond's surveying, published by
the American Book company; Rem
sens Elementary Chemistry, published
by H. Holt & Co., displaces Newth's
Elementary and Inorganic Chemistry,
published by Longmans, Green & Co..
Animal Activities, zoology, published
by Longmans, Green & Co., displaces
Jordan e Kellogg's Animal Forms,
published by d. Appleton & Co.; Ad-
vanced History of England, published
by Scott, Foresman & Co., displaces
Larned's History of England. First
Latin Book, Bellum Helvatacum, re-
places the various first Latin books
now in use, this being the first time
Paul schools. Benefits Latin Gram
mar, published by Allyn & Bacon, is
adopted as exclusive, other grammars
having also been used heretofore.
Francois Beginners French is added
to the course, this being published by
the American Book company. LIE Tour
de la France. par deux Enfants, pub
lished by HI. Holt & Co., is also added
to the French course. Action on gen
eraI history was postponed, the report
of the committee stating that. "the con-
dition respecting general history is not