The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-06-21
SCHOOL BOOKS.

SCHOOL BOOKS.
State Board Adopts This week-A Hot Fight
Wasins.
The State board of education will meet
in Columbia on Friday to adopt the books
for the schools of the State for the next
five years. This adoption is always Of
the greatest interest to the people Of the
State, for people kick strenuously against
having to buy new school books and
never see any reason why books should
be so constantly changed by the authori-
ties in charge of the schools. As mat
ter of fact the State adoption was insti-
tuted for this purpose, largely, and it has
resulted in, very much less change Of
books in the State schools. The special
school districts, graded schools and the
like, are now exempted from the re-
quirements of this adoption and as q con-
sequence the children in the city schools
pay great deal more for books than
those in the country schools. Independ-
ent districts are adopting other books be-
cause they appear to the superintendent
or teacher of the schools to do better.
Even with these Independent schools
using what books they choose, the book
business of the State under the adoption
is about $150,0O0 year. The house that
gets readers, that being the more desir-
able because of the large sale of readers,
every child having to have one and use q
reader as long as they are in school, is
worth to the successful bidder about $780,
600 year. The history sales in the State
will amount to $4,000 to $4,000, and so
with grammars. Arithmetics will afford
business amounting to something like
$4,000 year. These big figures attract
the very best publishers with the very
best books and stimulate the publishers
to get books that will have as many at
fractions for the commission that adopts
as possible. It has made wonderful
change in the complexion of the histories
offered to the people of the whole coun-
try, north as well as south, for house
that pushes in the north the sale Of book
Objectionable to the south will be mighty
apt to find its representatives treated
coldly when they come here with the
books. The matter of the uniform sys.
TEN of books in all the schools has am
other phase and very important one
which should be considered and that is
in view of the establishment of high
schools in the State. With books alike
and course Of study alike in country and
the town and course Of study generally
followed with the college in view there
will be many Of the impediments to edu.
cation removed.
Great pressure has been brought to bear
on the members Of the State board Of
education, consisting Of the governor,
superintendent of education and one
member from each congressional district
to keep the books now on the list, but as
great pressure has been brought to change
them. The outsider has no idea Of the
intensity Of the school book fight. The
book men have been delighted with the
conditions in South Carolina, where the
board is absolutely free from political en-
tanglements and have nothing In view
but the best interests of the schools and
the school children. If many of the books
are changed it will mean the political
death knell of the State superintendent
and of many Of the county superintend-
ents, the people failing to realize that the
men who are really responsible are be-
yond their reach. They are not in poll
tics. Another matter with all book
men, and there is an army camped on our
soil, is that in this State they have moth
ing to urge except the excellence Of their
books. No influence, no pressure other
wise than this, is countenanced. The fight
is straight one on the excellence OF the
books. The State board is composed Of
W. Z. Tate, Of Charleston, ]. E. Boland,
superintendent Of the Blackville schools,
D. W. Daniel, Of Clemson college, A.. g..
Rembert, Of Wofford college, A. R. Banks,
superintendent Of the Lancaster schools,
Hartwell NJ. Aver, editor Of the Florence
Daily Times, and A. J. Thackston, super.
intendent Of the Orangeburg schools.
There are hundreds Of books offered
on every different subject and many for
the library and teachers reading circle
adoption. As the date of the meeting
draws near the book men are making
their last and most strenuous efforts to
secure their books. Resolutions and tes-
timonials for and against certain books
for all sorts of schools and states are pre-
sented for comparison.
Tie board will very probably be as con.
servative as possible in the matter of the