Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-12-19
Legislative Committee Inquiries
into School Books

spent several days last week in
: Richmond examining the members
10 of the State Board of Education
with reference to the last adopt
ion of textbooks, and adjourned
"a Friday until early in January,
when the investigation will be con-
}, tinued. Among the members of
u the State Board CT Education who
appeared before the committee
r was Attorney General William A.
Anderson, who testified at length
9 as to the reasons governing the
board in adopting the multiple
/ list instead of the single list of
books.
"That system had PREVAILED"
he said, "since the establishment
of the public school system in the
State, and the widest range had
been given the local authorities in
the selection of books.
at is true that in 1886 there
was a departure from the system
and an attempt was made to adopt
d single list, but resolution was
at the came time ado ted leaving
all the books then on the list there,
making it practically wide-open
adoption.
$50 when we came to adopt in
1904 We found an infinite variety
of books on TIE list.
"While | want to assume my
full share Of responsibility for all
the acts of the board, l will cay
it would have been presumptuous
In me not to have deferred largely
in these matters to the views of
the very able expert educators on
the board, than whom the State &
never had more faithful or intelli-
gent officers.
81 was informed by these gen.
tlemen that to go at once to elm
gle list would mean the putting in
the hands of the teachers tools
with which they could not work.
"Our whole aim was to secure =
the very best books that could be Il
gotten under all the diverse con-
ditlcns in the State. .
1T was nv belief then, and is .
my belief now, that if we had been IL
dealing with the matter as an orig =
inal proposition, there would have :.
been no reason why one primer,
one reader and single books of 9TH b
er kinds should not be used in all
the counties and cities. U
"But we acted with the lights a.
before us, and did what, in my III
Judgment, was the best for all the
interests concerned. M
"As to grammars, biographies
and histories, it would rot have
been proper or expedient to have 10
changed them all at one time"
Major Anderson cohtended that
o have adopted straight single
ist would have increased the cost gi
# schoolboOks to the patrons, do
rom 100000 to 100000 It
This influenced him, too, in the pr
ction he took, for he knew of the as
circumstance of tn
asst majority of the patrons in ma
he State. KIN
The Attorney General read into bPo o
he record at this point statistics the
esigned to bear out bis content If
)ns as to the increased cost of SCI
ooks under the single list, and t T,'
Ontinuing, said: fea
''It was for these reasons, few
mOng others, that came to the but
inclusion that it was better to ' uo'
dept the multiple list. II
"According to the views of the gre
distinguished educators on the ms
Oard, nearly all the books then , us,
: the list would have been left tina
I had we adopted single list. the
IL would not have presumed to NET
,t on these matters without ad 1870
ce, and | had the advice of the
olest and best practical educators -
this State. n
II have plan which will get 1
J our books at the minimu m cost.
g should adopt books during
'od behavior, so to speak, and =
them stay upon the list as long
they prove satisfactory, prcvid-
!, OF course, that revised editions
ould be put on. No,
eve should do away with this :,
adrennlal adoption, which let's 4
an army Of invading book-agents,
lose campaigns upset and con-
Sc the entire school system of
Q State.
81 am informed that this will
Ve us books at very much low
figure than we are now paying. And
81 believe our children are en- &c
led to the best BOOKS at the least
Sable cost. >,
I'm any event, l believe the =,
ate Board will proceed with the Is II
xt adoption without invoking m
} aid of local committees. II
II am of opinion that the fire. a. az
emit changes of school books have Phil
lsed more dissatisfaction among ever
, patrons than advanced prices. the
prin
Its
at Culpeper Saturday treau
A dispatch from Culpeper, Va, s Stat'
Saturday, December 10Th, says: even
liam F. Bywaters, a promi- cent?