Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1905-08-09
Acknowledgement Hadlev rem

| A attofneY-UeucTHt daaieV feH'
derea his first opinion, relative t.
the textbook question, on April
Gath, to the effect that county
boards Of education had The right
10 make selections Of text books ic
be used in the schools Of their re-
! spectiye counties.
However, we did not act at once
upon that opinion for the reason
that the law gave rs 10 power 10
enforce our action. / took the
Position that it was useless to take
any action in the matter, unless We
could show that we had the power
10 enforce the use Of the books that
we might Recommend.
| In fact, after discussing the sub
ject at Potosi during the June ex-
animation, we decided to DO moth
ing until we heard from the State
Board Of Education. And in order
to notify that body of our position
and to ask advice in the matter, /
tried to get Ar. Darlington 10 tho
| phone On Friday night, June 24th,
and Saturday morning, June 25th.
/ could not get Mr.. Carrington,
and we adjourned without taking
any action relative to the change
Of text books.
It, Il letter sent me by the State
Board Of Education, w, 7. Car
tngtou. J. ". Folk j. Z. Swan-
geI and II. 5. Hadtey) | was ad-
vised in the following terms:
The State Boarl. has little ad-
vice to offer. 1t urges You to con
slider the interests Of the children
first, and the patrons next. The
publishers will look after their
own interests. Get good books,
but get them at lowest prices. Ac,
Independently; act promptly."
After returning from Potosi |
wrote Supt. Carrina!on that we
had taken no action relative to the
change Of text books. Here is his
!repiy:
Il have ycur letto, concerning
text books and note it carefully. /
advise that your county board
make recommendations for books
to be used in your schools and that
yon arrange with dealers to have
the books Oh safe. Otherwise
many ef your schools will not be
'supNiied.'
This decided ne to call the board
together for The purpose Of max
ing recommendations, aud | Motif
cd Nj. Darlington Of the fact. He
replied: You are right. Get
your county board together and
make selections and recommenda.
tons Of books, and arrange with
dealers 10 have the books on hand
y hen the schon!s OPEN"
Later Mr.. Carringtor sent me
the following communication: Il
am sending you this letter to call
your attention to the following:
Acknowledgement HndIey has rem
dorcd two opinions touching text
books. They are not inconsistent.
In he first the county board has Il
right to select text books. In the
second he says there is 10 authority
| fCr anyone to cutCr into contracts.
| advise that YOU select the books,
arrange with publishers as II
plices aud with dealers to handle
them. Then yon have done your
duty and / hope aud believe that
school boards and teachers wilsuse
these selected by you and your
! board"
Mr.. Fox agreed that if we took
any action in the matter. we wou}G
recommend the discontiDuance OF
of DeGarmos Language Series,
Patrick Lessons in English, anc
| Shinn's History, He also express
ca himself to the effect that, il bis
opinion, Montsomery's Historic:
were the best offered by publishers
He commented freely and favor
ably upon the Mother Tongue Ser
les Of Grammars. Still lie dissent
cd with Mr.. GIoriod aud | in max
! ing recommendations for the reas
on that tho legislature Of 190'
! probably would pass a law tina
| would put our work in the back
ground.
Mr.. G|oriod and I did as othe1
county boards have done through
ont the state. We took the advice
Of the State Board of Education
made recommendations where the,
were most needed, and we hop
that our recommendations vii
meet the approval of patrons
school boards, pupils and teachers
Respectfully,
| ]. w. Houston.
| County Commissioner.