The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-04-12
STATE URlIFO RMITY
OF TEXT BOOKS
We Think Would Be False ECONOMY.
Commission Of Mind Would
Be DANGEROUS.


pointment by the State of uni
form text book commission have been
introduced for the consideration of
the present legislature. Now, the ques-
ton of the selection Of text books for
our public schools, while not our most
important educational problem, is still
a matter for the gravest consideration.
1t demands the most thorough investi-
CATION, and is capable of settlement
at the hands only of those who have
the authority that comes from definite
knowledge The subject is compli-
Gated one Lack of space here forbids
any extended discussion or any multi
plication Of facts and figures We are
free to say, however, that the state
ments made in this article are no mere
generaltes or vague suppositiOns, but
are based on irrefutable facts and can
be substantiated by multitude of sta
tistcs.
What IS the chief argument advanced
by the advocates of State uniformity?
ECONOMY. This is an attractive and
plausible argument, one likely to appeal
to any legislature that has at heart the
interests of the people. Beyond doubt,
every misguided State legislature that
has adopted State uniformity has done
so under the delusion that 1t was work
ing for the good of its constituency.
1t has been duped by specious argd-
ments and has acted without sufficient
light. We should like briefly to call
the attention Of our readers to several
important considerations.
First 1t is the part of wisdom 70
learn from the experience of others.
Very few individuals learn anything
from such wholesome sources, and per-
haps still fewer States ever profit by
the mistakes made by other common
wealths Florida certainly can afford
TO learn wisdom from the unfortunate
experiences of some o. her sister
States. We are as a state W no cOndl-
tiun for hazardous educational expert
ments Eighteen States have adopted
Estate uniformity Not one State Of
this eighteen is, or ever has been, dis
for educational progress.
Not one Of this eighteen has ever con-
tributed anything ~ the cause and his.
tory of America The great States of
Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Mich
igan, Illinois, Virginia, are consplcu-
ously absent from the "State uniform
ity'' list Very clearly, State uniform
ity" is no sign of an educational awak-
ening or of actual educational advance.
Again, as has been said, economy is
the watchwOrd of the advocates of uni
formity This economical feature is
claimed to have two aspects. First, it
is said that uniformity will save money
for those people who move from couPty
to county; secondly, that uniformity
will reduce the price of text books. Let
us consider each claim in turn.
First Will uniformity really save
money for those people who move from
county to county? This is extr mely
doubtful In many cases these people
will find it necessary TO purchase We y
few new books, and these at an eX-
pense so slight as 90 be disrega dcd
Furthermore, how many people actually
move from place to place? About five
per cent. Immigration is from Sta e
10 State rather than from county 20
county. II we wish 20 save money 10
our domestic iWr Grants, why not
adopt National uu ormi.y, and go a
step farther by co.IaIzinE all couca
tonal authority ar Washing on, as wc
now propose 20 -auiIllize lt &c the
State capital thus .eprivuy local and
county boards of ...." privileges. ami
refusing to consult local 'as.,s and
needs in the matter Of text uOout
Yes, perhaps 3 p.r .n1t Of our people
move about FROM county 90 couu-
~. what about the % pr cent
VINO stay gg .ct'r .J home? SgH their
Interest," b." aacHe-d 20 thor" of
numerically IusIg... .nt minority.
Still a-ain, granting that State uni-
iormi,y might resH.r IN q slight saving
to hose who move from county to
county. we can easily sec that dis saw
ing would bc infinitely cOunterbalanred
by the immense cost Of changing from
our present county uniformity 20 the
State uniformity. IL has been
estimated that the ac-
tual loss to the people Of the State in
volved in this change would approach
500, 600. Long year before this amount
will have been retrieved through any
decreased cost of books. the State will
make a new adoption, and the same
tremendous loss will have 10 be incurred
again. 1t is very easy TO corrobOrate
this statement by exact figures and
minute details. Clearly there can be
no true economy in such a proposition.
Save one dollar and at the same time,
by the same act. lose tent This we're n
''penuy wise and pound foolish" policy
indeedl
Furthermore. Il is claimed that uni
form text books are cheaper. In this
statement there Is perhaps q shadow Of
truth, though there are many opponents
of uniformity who can produce facts