Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-09-06
The School Books.


The Textbook Committee of the But
ler School Board is supposed to select.
buy and care for the books, but rs a
matter OF fact the whole business is left
to the Borough Superintendent. He
buys the books, and distributes them to
the different Principals. who lock them
up In the cases provided for them in the
different buildings, and with the aid OF
the teachers, keep track Of each book,
and make requisition for more az
needed. About 10000 books are in the
schools Of Butler.
In all the large towns of the state,
however, the carrying out of the provis.
sions of the free-text-book law requires
the establishing of store or supply
rooms for the books, and the employ
ment of store-keepers. In Pittsburg,
Tor instance, 10000 books were dis
tributed, last week. from the supply
rooms Of the Central Board OF Educa.
tion at the Fifth Avenue High School.
Forty-fye thousand drawing books.
1900 reading books, 5000 algebras,
$4,000 sheets Of manila paper, half q
million slate pencils. 1S, 900 rules, 90, 600
lead pencils, IT'S gallons Of ink were
among some Of the other items OF school
supplies that were forwarded to the 81
school buildings Of the city and every
building had all its school material on
hand with the exception Of some alge-
bras, which shortage was remedied in
time tor the reopening OF the schools
Monday.
Wagon loads were delivered to supply
the demand.
The use of states is gradually disap-
pearing In the Pittsbnrg schools, though
nearly 5000 were distributed to many
Of the schools as well as half a million
slate pencils. 1t is expected that event
nallv states will be abolished entirely In
Pittsburg schools. The quantity of
paper used Ia now on the increase, 5000
dozen OF Pad A (the commonest kind
used) IL q recent delivery to the schools,
with $4,000 common lead pencils to
figure and write with. The slate has
long been declared unsanitary, as well
as unclean.
Changes were made in the drawing
books, readers. algebras and In primary
supplementary reading books this year,
and the task OF receiving, labelling and
distributing them to the various schools
was one of the biggest lowing to the
growth Of the schools) that ever con
fronted the Central Board supply store
room officials.
A text book on drawing is to be
placed in the hands Of the Pittsburg
school children this year Sixty thous-
and sheets OF manila paper was the
order sent In from the ward schools to
be used In lien Of the paper drawing
books used for years to sketch the forms
and figures included ia the art school
course. No more white drawing paper
is being ordered, dull ''grocer's gray"
paper being substituted. Draughting
pencils for shading at ~ a dozen were
introduced last year. As these are so
expensive they are carefully looked
after by the teachers and set is sup
posed to last for long period.
Fifty thousand dollars was the appro-
priation the Central Board OF Educa-
ton asked Of the city this year for
carrying ont the provisions of the free
text book law. This includes the run-
ming expenses OF the storeroom, for two
men are required there. The maximum
amount hxed by the Central Board OF
Education for supplies for each papiI
has been placed at 35 cents This sum
mer the store force had to be increased
temporarily, owing to the big order of
new books to be handled, as readers and
algebras have not been changed for five
years, and the drawing books now are
regular text bonkq and had IN ha IahaI
Ike other books for the first time.