The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-05
TO LESSEN COST
OF SCHOOL BOOKS
Alderman Morgan Submits
Plan to Council
BOOKS TOO EXPENSIVE
Introduces Resolution Outlining Plan
Adopted in GreenvlIIe, Miss, Which
He Claims Is Saving Parents
Much Money
BOOKS TOO EXPENSIVE

A movement to reduce the cost of
school books is under way in Birming-
ham, the plan being to have the city
purchase the books and rent them to
the pupils of the public schools. This
been successfully followed in other cities
and is said to materially lessen the ex.
pense of schooling.
Alderman Barnes Morgan introduced a
resolution at the meeting of the Board of
Aldermen last night, outlining plan of
this kind now being followed in Green
vile. Miss, and requesting the Board
of Education to carefully consider the
matter. His resolution reads:
whereas. The average patron of our
public schools is seriously in need of
relief from the high cost of school books
and supplies and our present plan af-
fords no economic provision to save the
loss which acerues from inability to util-
zo school books purchased; and
whereas, a method of saving this
loss to patrons has been adopted and
used with striking success by other pro-
gressive cities, notably the city of Green
vile, Miss, as shown by the attached
outline of the system now in use in
said city; and
whereas, Greater Birmingham ought
to establish the most modern and cost
saving plans for providing, distributing
and economizing school books and sup
plies for its people; and
Whereas, 1t is the sense of the City
Council OF Birmingham that a practical
measure of relief be provided at the earl
lest possible date, therefore,
BE 1t resolved, That the City Council
of Birmingham recommend and urge
early consideration and action by the
Board of Education of The city upon the
attached plan Of the city of Greenville.
Miss, and hereby heartily indorse this
plan, or any other measure which will
afford equal benefit for the patrons of
our public schools
Outline of the school library plan of
the city of Greenvile, Miss:
THE school board of Greenville, Miss,
By special appropriation, undertook to
furnish school books and supplies to the
pupils at reduced cost. The initial
eApenses was borne out of the first ap-
preparation, since which time the plan
ha; been more than self-sustaining, and
the cost to parents has been enormously
reduced. ~
This plan was adopted by the school
board of the city OF Greenville, Miss.
about ~ years ago.
Prior to the adoption of this plar
the estimated cost of a set of books FOL
the entire school course was something
over $16.7.ne~r 80 sis~- s-4'.s-1;-.s4 Il
"Sinee the rental plant went into effec
it has enabled the school board to rem
the books to the parents of the children
at about the following figures.
Grades /, and 8, 81 per year.
| Grades 4 and 5, $1.50 per year.
Grades s and I, 81 per year.
"Grades l. 2. and 4 High school, 81
per year.
| after the plan had been in operation
for one year it was found that the above
| figures were somewhat excessive, and
then the rental figures were reduced tt
the figures named below, which figures
have been in force for the last II years
Grades l, and 3, 70 cents per year.
| Grades and s, 81 per year.
Grades and Z, 80 per year.
| ut is a fact that these figures include
all supplementary books, all drawing and
manual training books pens, Ink and
copy books, examination papers, and kin
dergarten materials. Also in the three
primary grades all exercise paper and
pencils.
During the last six years these fig
ures have resulted in the accumulation
OF a surplus of about $1,000 per year,
which amounts have been used for the
purchase of additional books for the IL
brary."