The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-04
STOP SALE OF CHARTS.
State Text Book Board Puts End to
Country Life" Scandal.

One of the most important acts OF
the state text book commission, which
| was IN session here yesterday, was the
unanimous passage of a resolution re-
voking the endorsement given July FL.
1904, to Country Life and Agricultural
| Education" a chart which was sold to
| hundreds of school districts in Kansas
under false representations. There
was a great scandal over this affair.
involving ex-State superintendent Day.
hon, who refused to. call a meeting of
the text book commission to revoke
the approval after it had been dis
covered that the agents for the chart
were swindling the school district
boards throughout the state. The ZAP
provaI' of the state text book COM
mission was used by the agents of the
chart as club to force district boards
to buy the chart, which cost about $50.
While the sale of this chart is now
said to have stopped in Kansas, the
agents are said to be using the Kan
sas endorsement in other states for the
purpose of inducing school boards to
invest in the chart. There is no spe-
cial object to the chart itself except
that it is exceedingly high priced The
aroused the comment.
The text book commissioners elected
as secretary w. E. Lyon of Lincoln
county.
All of the members of the board at
tended the meeting except Frank Mel
son of Lindsbore
It is planned by the text book COM
mission to get down to business in a
on May for the purpose of selecting
books for the next five years. In years
past the board has sometimes been in
session for two or three weeks, holding
long and repeated consultations with
representatives of the various book
companies. This year an entirely diff
ferent system will be adopted.
Beginning at 10 o'clock Monday
morning, May 6, the school book pub
fishers through their respective repre-
sentatives will be given a hearing be-
fore the board. This hearing shall
terminate at the close of that day, and
thereafter the commission will devote
itself exclusively to the consideration
of the merits of the books offered. in
executive session, as required by law.
Superintendent of Education Fairchild
said today:
''I believe that we will be able to
finish UP the work of the board in
very few days. The members of the
board are all familiar with books, and !
they know their duties. I believe that |
the question will be settled on merit |
and we will get good set of books.
Under the adoption of rules and or !
der of business it was agreed that all |
oids and samples of books submitted |
must be in the hands of the chairman |
of the textbook commission not later |
than 1880 p. m. of Monday, May 9Th, |
l9UG, ana Cnat no changes IN D1QS OF |
bids will be accepted af-
ter this date.
The following order of consideration
and adoption of books was also agreed
upon: Spelling, reading, arithmetic,
English grammar, physiol-
ogy and hygiene, history of the United
States, civil government, elements of
algebra, physical geography, elements
IF natural philosophy, bookkeeping
md a graded series Of writing books.
It is likely that nearly all the book
publishing concerns of the country
will submit books in competition with
he book trust because the word has
gone out that Kansas is going to be on
he square this time and award con-
racts on merit. There have been some
7ears in the past when the school
book awards have been a scandal of