Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-28
SCHOOL BOOK MIDDLE.

ingen was in Yorkville last Saturday
having come over from a meeting OF
the Winthrop board to see what could
be done about Strengthening out
school troubles Of which complaint
has been reaching him from this
county.
1t appears that according to the
made with the publishers whose
hooks are. to be used until June 30
1917, the R. L. Bryan company, o1
Columbia, general agents of the pub
fishers in South Carolina Is bound tc
furnish new books at a fixed price
and to exchange new books for old or
a basis Of about half the retail price
Of the new boks. This exchange ar
rangement Is to continue until De-
cember Is, 1872 after which new
books will have to be purchased
straight.
The Star Drug Store Of Yorkville
having undertaken to act as local de-
pository for the r. L. Bryan company
without a full understanding Of the
contract, has not been disposed tc
general understanding for the reason
that 1t did not consider that 1t was
required to make these exchanges al
ALL and as the result there has been
pouring into the office of the state
superintendent so many complaining
letters that Mr.. Swearingen decided
that 1t was best to come up and look
into the situation himself.
The Star Drug Store people quickly
explained to Mr.. Swearingen their
understanding Of the matter, and
went on to say that by reason Of the
development Of so much trouble and
annoyance from sources so numerous
and varied that 1t would be difficult to
name them ALL it had exercised an
option that the contract left open to
both parties and given the r. l.. Bryan
company the required thirty days no
tice of its intention to throw up the
agency.
Now under the contract" said Mr.
|Swearingen to the Enquirer, "the R.
L. Bryan company Is not only bound
to maintain an agency; but 1t Is liable
to forfeit Of $25 for each refusal to
swap new books for old under the ex-
change price agreed upon. Now, OF
course we don't want anything Of this
because 1t would make endless dis
agreeable litigation and there Is no
need for 1t. Besides there Is no rea-
son to believe that anybody, has will
fully or Intentionally offended in the
matter. The Star Drug store people
say that since they understand the
contract better they will make ex-
changes of new books for old in ac-
cordance with the contract during the
continuance Of their agency; but as
to whether there was any hope thar
they would continue, they did not give
me to understand"
However, as I have said, the R. l.
Bryan company Is bound to maintain
an agency in Yorkville, and to sell
the books of the new adoption at the
price agreed upon and make ex-
changes in accordance with this con-
tract, and / want the Enquirer to eX-
plain the whole matter to the people.
OF course, it is we'll known that this
wholesale changing Of the books did
not have my approval. I can see
where 1t might have been desirable to
make some changes; but In the case
Of changes involving eighty per cent
Of all the books In use, the best / can
say is that there was something sad
ly lacking either in the Judgment OF
the board that gave US the old adop-
tion, or in the judgment Of the board
that has made the recent changes
But that Is neither here nor there now
The changes have been made and af-
ter December IL, 1912 1t will be un-
lawful to use books other than those
included in this adoption. The thing
now Is to inform the people what they
have to do and what their rights are.
I'm the case Of people who have
plenty of money the cost Of school
books is a small matter; but In the
case Of others, especially those who
find 1t all they can do to buy food and
clothes 1t Is different. The exchange
matter is a considerable item and
want the people to get the benefit of
IL, The Arrangement provides for the
exchange Of old books for new books
Of the same grade and series, book for
book plus the exchange price that
must appear on a printed slip pasted
in the back Of all the new books.
Anybody can see just what they are
entitled to and there can be no ques-
ton about the matter"
Now while under the law these
exchanges do not have to be mad be-
fore December Is, 1912, it will be a
matter for teachers and patrons to
arrange in the meantime. Where 1t
is practicable to continue whole
grades in old books, it is just as well
to do It; but where the old books are
not available, and 1t would mean the
making Of too many grades, or twice
not do because the teachers would
have to do twice as much work to get
the same results, Until December
Is, 1912 old books have an exchange
value but after that date they are
worthless, so 1t would be we'll to get
things fixed up as soon as practical
ble."
Asked as to whether or not he could
offer any systematic plan whereby
this five year confusion over school
books could be avoided. Mr.. Swearin-
gen said:
I'm my Judgment 1t Is desirable to
change books from time to time; but
I do not believe in changing them
a valid reason, and among the rea-
sons l have in mind are: l. cheap
ness, 2. more scientific treatment Of
a subject, 3. new matter. AS I have
already said / can see no reason why
there should be an eighty per cent
change at the end of single fiscal
year period, and 1t seems to me that
it would be along the right line so as
to provide:
Il. That all the schools supported
in whole or in part by public funds
shall use the same books.
"2 That the selection Of books de-
volve on some authority directly re-
sponsible to the people.
"3. That all the books in use be
classified in three subdivisions.
"a. That the books in any one Of
the sub divisions may be changed not
oftener than once every two years so
that a complete change would be i'm
possible in less than a six year peri
Od.
"Of course, I would not be under
stood as saying that third Of the
books should be changed every two
years or all of them in six years; but
would merely provide this arrange
ment so changes can be made II de-
sirable"
ANnMINC