Lower coast gazette., 1910-02-19
THE SCHOOL BOOK PROBLEM
An Effort Being Made to Grange the
Existing Law and Make for
School Home Rules"

Baton Rouge. L0-An "n'ir.ly new
S"hem" tor selecting the text books 10
De used IN The public schools OF the
STAT" viii be ;hc outcome OF the ill.,
curry ny the committee appointed 10
near charges growing oar OF the sp-
lection OF school books Tor The next
lo"r years.
ih" committee that selected the
looks IS I'll right, but the system is
rotten, is the only Interpretation that
can Be placed on the report OF the in
V~eHtigators.
About the capital, and in educational
circles that grayitute to the c~apjtal
the principal topic OF discussion is the
pest plan TO adopt in the place OF the
law that has been in force for the
past eight years.
ihcfe is a growing feeling on the
part OF iaymcn who are interested in
the subject, as We'll as educators. that
the solution of the difficulty lies in
school home rule"
In other words, let the authorities
OF each school pick out the books that
are best suited to their particular
needs.
The impossibility Of Il text book com.
mission, covering the state in its ac-
lvitics, selecting one series Of books
that will be Of equal merit in every
school room, is one of the most i'm
porlant factors in favor of the home
rule idea.
\ decreased expenditure for books
Is q second argument. The expert.
encc OF other states permitting local
selection, is pointed at in this con-
nectlOn. Where this rule is enforced,
books are retained in use as long as
they meet the needs of the teachers
and the pupils, if that be for ten years.
lhey are not supDlanted by other
books because the new ones happen
to have more extensive foot notes or a
more exhaustive index, or because of
the fancy Of some member of a com
mission who has a theoretical fancy
for some particular volume.
1t is believed, thirdly, that local Sc.
lection will make for more harmony in
the school system as a whole. Under
the state uniformity plan, which now
seems thoroughly discredited, each
teacher and each pupil is compelled
to use n certain book, whether it
fills local requirements or not. II the
teacher finds she is not getting the
best work out Of her pupils by the use
of a book, she feels there is sure to be
a reflection on her ability as an in
structor. Naturally, she is indignant
at a state commission that places her
under such a handicap. BY the use of
books of her own selection, chosen
from her personal experience as to the
needs Of the children under her, the
service she renders her community
might be doubly valuable.
In all the ours of the investigation
into text book awards, no suspicion Of
undue influence has developed against
any member of the commission.
Enough was discovered, however, to
make certain radical changes in the
school book laws of the state. Gov.
Sanders, eX-otlicio member and presi-
Gent of the state board of education,
will insert in his message to the legis-
laturc. recommendations as TO the
amendment Of the law. Superintend-
ent Harris is working on a set of rec
concentrations that he will present to
the general assembly. Other mem
bers of the state board are equally
opposed to any further continuance of
the state uniformity law in its pres
ent shane.
is a rapidly growing sentiment that
the entire state uniformity scheme is
wrong. Founded on a dangerous and
unjust basis, it is believed that any at.
tempt to improve it would leave it in
Just as bad. if not a worse condition.
that it is at present. The statement is
freely made by prominent educators
that the only thing to be done is to
tear out the foundations and erect an
entirely new structural law; II that
will give communities the privilege
of saying what they want and what
they are willing to buy.
With the state uniformity law in
its present shape, doomed, the section
giving preference to Louisiana-written
books, will also go. This mandate has
several times caused the introduction
of inferior books in the schools. In
other states, where a similar law is in
effect, it has been charged that books
unable to obtain sale elsewhere, were
placed under a local name and imme-
diately taken into the school courses.
The discussion of text book and
school affairs in Louisiana has aroused
the attention Of much of the country
and letters have been received here
by the hundreds from educators all
over the United States, making sug.
gestiOns for the solution of the prob
lens that confront the public. A great
majority of these communications ad-
vocate the complete abandonment of
the state uniformity plan and urge
that the democratic idea of local gov.
eminent of school affairs be again
permitted. It is the Judgment ex-
pressed in these letters that better
and more successful schools are the
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