The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-28
THE PEOPLES FORUM
Not Fault Of Book Trust

Editor OF The Nirginian:
Sir,n issue OF your paper a correspondent,
sisnlhg himself B b.. attacks the book trust and
vent to some q his pent-up feelings against the
insiy opposed To needless changing OF school books
hcatlon that need correction. for his own niorma
non as well as 70 keep others from falling into the same
srrors uhder which he Is laboring. Mr. b. b evil
IDENTIFY is not some facts that, had he known
thenl would have left him without anything of I'M
the gentleman to get some official information at the
Department Of Public instruction before he attempts
10 inNesh against the honorable board or the book
trust any further lie should read the school law
nave 1t improved The honorable board of education
Is simply carrying the law The contract of Ave
year period for which the high school were
adopted and the honorable board" is obliged to make
new contract this year Should it simply all
old contracts revise the list get the best books
that have come since 1905? Wisdom iustifes the
as far as was practcsble and securing the new
BOOKS at lower price than the old books cost Mr.
b b sees nothing but the change OF books; his
eyes closed to the fact that in
re Attacks both the trust and the honorable board
for benefit And why should he condemn the book
in the matter? If the board did invite proposals
to furnish books for Virginia and ask them submit
II bring about grand change" The policy OF
ing the State board of coming the rescue OF the
their already overlooking Wild reckless
assertions :r,It 5l deceive &c, only the ignorant
The irate B. b. also says, Books costing $3.50 each
last February are not worth the paper which they
again All new books are sold at an exchange
price--if the pupil has old book the grade.
Tor which he is allowed about half the price of the
book.
Is there any in using such arguments" when
intelligent people know better? think "B BIS" article
belongs in the Junk heap" He thinks he has made
another argument for transportation pupils" in the
interest Of the frai delicate girl" carry
fourteen or fifteen books and from school" Where
IN the state OF virginia does pupil have twelve
DOCKS TO STUDY? Examine the required Of study
Tor both common and high schools and 1t s impossible
20 hlld any such a burden put on any child as Mr.
b. B., in ft of righteous Indignation" l suppose,
charges. Or is he simply duging in hyperboe for
pls are required to take judge to be about
so that 'B. b. is about hundred per cent. too
high in his estimate.
This "hght' against book trust" will never be
won by the kind of arguments used by the gentleman
they are too wide of the mark indeed He is not aim
book trust would be powerlessit is powerless now.
except textbook law is definite enough.
Stop abusing the publishers. and the school boards
and the teachers sometimes for doing just what
the law either allows requires to be done Stop,
gentlemen IT. and after the Legislature
Aim your guns at the right target. I have been an
advocate for of longer period which school
State board Our school books now, both common"
and high cost less than they did formerly and what
we need is law by the Legislature compelling
contracts to be let for not less than years If
b B." will stop junkhea ping and go after the next
Legislature for safe and law that VIII insure
less frequent changes pledge him I'll help best
know how. But there is reason in abusing our
to be condemned to the Junk heap Give us text
books under eight year contract.
J. LUTHER KILLER.
Stanardsville, Va. Sept 81,