East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-10-16
OREGON|ANS PAY TOO MUCH FOR SCHOOL
BOOKS

The Albany correspondent of the
Portland Oregonian has secured from
Senator NJ. A. Miller, of Linn county
an entertaining and valuable interview
on the subject of free textbooks,
which Is as follows:
State Senator M. A. Miller, of Linn
county, today discussed at some length
the proposed legislation on the lines
OF the educational system of the state,
and particularly ON the subject of free
textbooks, bill for which has been
proposed for the coming session of
the legislature.
II believe we have in this country
the greatest educational system in
the world" said Senator Miller. Our
system of public schools, offering a
good education to all free, and requir-
ing all OF the advantages offered, Is
unsurpassed.
ANY proposed change In the sys-
TEN is question of great Importance,
and should be handled only after
careful investigation. 1t is a fact that
&c per cent Of the people in the
United States secure all the education
they ever get. or rather all the school,
ing In the public schools. That per-
ccnfage of the population do not at
tend the higher institutions of learn
ing. In view of these figures, any
proposed change causes people to
think and investigate, ard action
should be taken only after careful
study of the question.
THE proposed change, that of fur
nishing textbooks in the public
schools OF Oregon, at the expense of
tie taxpayers, has received considera-
BILE attention, and there is much to be
said for and against the question. 1t
might result In a saving i'm the total
amount Of money spent for school
books in the state, and distribute the
expense among the people who foot
the bills of the state government.
Oregon Books High Priced.
In this connection, / want to say
that the people of Oregon are paying
more for their school books than the
people of any other state in tht
Union. l have investigated this sub
ject and have figures q support my
statements. For years have devoted
considerable time to the educationa
questions In Oregon. and have beer
an advocate OF using the pruning
knife on the sche lule of studies IL
the public schools. There are too
many studies tOuGht, and too littI,
attention given to each branch o
work. The books cost too much, an.
because of the great number o
branches taught, often become a bur
donsOme expense.
Comparative Prices.
"As result of my investigation %
have the cost of hooks in a number o
stateG, ami = comparison of the EEK
penSe there with the prices charged Fl
Oregon Is interesting. In Texas Il Firs
Reader costs is cents, in Oregon, 2
cents. an increase of 40 per cent; See
ond Reader, % cents, I'm Oregon, 8
cents. an increase of 70 per cent
Third Reader. 30 cents, In f0regon, a
cents, an increase of 33 l-3 per cent
Speller, Is cents, In Oregon % cents
an increase of AZ per cent; First Geo
grdphy, AZ cents, in Oregon so cents
an increase of AZ per cent.
North Carolina offers even a NOR
glaring example. There the Firs
Reader costs 13 cents; in aOregon 2
cents. an ircrease OF 92h per cent
Second Reader is cents, in Oregot
80 cents, an increase of 66 23 pc
cent; Geography. 40 cents, in Oregon
so cents, an increase of so per cent