Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-07-27
FORFREETEXTbOOKS
SPECIAL ELECTION Will BE Held
SATURDAY TO DECIDE.
The Experience of Saginaw, Mich,
With free Text Books in the Pub.
lie Schools. An Estimate of Cost
to Aberdeen District of Free Books
Shows Large Saving.

A special school election will be held
next Saturday to vote special taA of 2
mills on the dollar for the purpose OF in
augurating the free text book system in
the public schools of this district. The
polls will be held at 40S1s East Wishkah
street, next door to the HERALD office,
and will be open from TO p. m.
The adoption of this system is not only
in line with educational progress, but is
true economy as we'll. Wherever tried
and it is in operation in all progressive
cities in the country-it has proved go
successful that no return to the old sys-
TEN OF private purchase of books has
ever occurred.
City Superintendent Cook and Clerk
Macfarlane have made an estimate of
the cost for books for the coming school
year, based upon the enrolment of last
year, and find that it will amount to
$2,636 35. AS the school board will get
a reduction OF 20 per cent on these books,
a saving of $527.23 will be effected the
first year. OF course, after this invest
ment the cost will decrease each year,
the books purchased being the property
of the district, are used over and over
until worn out.
In investigating this matter, the school
board sought the experience of other
cities for its guidance, and in all cases
the report vas that free books saved
much money to the people and made the
public schools really free.
The following letter from the superin.
tendent Of schools at Saginaw. Michigan,
is a sample OF the replies received to in.
quiries:
"SAGINAw, Mich, May 81, 1905.
"MR. w. r. MAcFARLANE,
"Aberdeen, Wash:
"DEAR SIR:- At the request Of Mr.. q.
Q. Spencer [ take pleasure in enclosing
herewith statement of the cost of the
free text books in this city since the sys.
tenn was adopted in 1855. As you will
see, the average cost per pupil has been
in the neighborhood OF fifty cents pei
annum. This includes text books used
by pupils from the first grade to the
High sc 6hool and l submit that it is a
very small cost indeed. Ii the parents
OF these pupils had bought the books in
the regular way at the book stores, the
average cost would certainly have been
two or three dollars per pupil.
"The people of Saginaw are enthusi.
astic over the free text book system.
Never word OF complaint is offered in
any way and no one would think OF
changing to the old plan. Free text
books make our public schools what they
claim to be, free indeed. Pupils can be.
gin their work the first day Of the term
without any vexatious delays on account
OF waiting for text books, and the chill
dren OF well.tO.do parents have no better
advantages in the text book line than
others. If there is any further or de-.
tailed information which you wish me to
give, shall be happy to do so.
"Yours truly,
"E. f. WARMER, Supt."
The statement OF cost OF books referred
to in this letter showed the cost per pu-
pill to have been 81 % in the year 1885 6,
the first year of the free book system,
and that this cost has been reduced to 81
cents per pupil for the year l9O3-4.
The board of education has taken con-
siderable trouble to thoroughly lnvesti.
gate this subject with the sole object of
bettering our schools, and their efforts
should be appreciated by large vote on
Saturday in favor OF this step in educa.
tional progress.
A Touching Story