The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-12
GET MORE LIGHT
on FREE BOOKS
TT WILL TAKE $4,000
PER YEAR TO MAINTAIN
PROPOSED SYSTEM
REPORT TO BE DRAFTED
COMMITTEE HOLDS MEETING
AND THRESHES OUT NATTER.
SCHOOL BOARD ENDOR-
SEES THE PROPOSITION

Additional light on the question OF
free text books for the Richmond pub
lie schools was shed last night At a
meeting OF the subcommittee OF the
Council! Committee on Ordinance.
Charter and Reform. when Superin-
tendent Chandler and several members
OF the school board. together with
Councilman Fuller, patron Of the ordt-
rance. talked over the situation.
AS a result OF the conference. 1t was
practically agreed that 1t will take
100000 TO. put the scheme In opera
tion AMI fully as much each year
thereafter to keep 1t In operation. for
at least ter .ears. The committee
postponed action in the matter pend
ing th.. preparation OF a report to be
submitted to the full committee which
meets next On December II.
1t developed that the school board.
at meeting yesterday afternoon.
adopted resolutions favoring free text
books PROVIDED this arrangement will
not reduce the general appropriations
for salaries. general expense. hrw
buildings and other features now rec
ogaized in the budget"
Cut Cost One Fourth.
Cnder the proposed plan. it 10 esti-
mated that the city OF Richmond VIII
be able to furnish books to pupils at
fully one-fourth the total cost of books
each year to parents under the pre-
yaiiing system. This il based on the
estimate OF Superintendent Chandler
that parents In Richmond pay out APP
proximateiy $4,000 annually for
books. In making this estimate, DIR.
Chandler made an allowance of $780,
zoe per year which they save BY the
continued Use OF old books.
MIR. Fuller took issue with DR..
| Chandler, contending that the parents
expend at least $4,000 per year on
books for their children at school Mr..
Fuller estimated that 1t costs each
pupil at least $3.50 for books.
Include All Grades.
| Or. Chandler calculated that II old
/ books were given up by parents when
| the proposed system is inaugurafeo
| and IL the plan were confined to the
elementary grades. the cost of free
| books TO the city would be hardly In
| excess Of $1,000. II was pretty well
| agreed. however. that the fair thing
/ to do would be to include an trades
| In the scheme, and especially the high
school.
Chairman Hutzler Of the school
board. ventured the prediction tina,
/ the system would bring about some
| friction with parents who might have
1
DESTROYED, but he gave assurance tina,
the school would be ready to meet all
issues as well &c IL could.
/ Allowance was made In the 49,
600 estimate for the development OF
d aicrekeeper and a wagon and
driver. this feature being placed Al
$1,000.
Reap Big PROFIT
II was estimated that book deal.
ers pay rs cents on the dollar for
old text books and resell them fel
IS to Is cents on the dollar. Under
the free book system there would
| of course. be no loss OF this kind tc
| the city.
Nonresidents would not be allowed
the privilege Ct proftlng by the free
book system.
Mr.. Fuller read some interesting
figures showing the cost Of free book.
and in some instances the cost oil
supplies as we'll In cities that have
already adopted the system.
Here are some OF the figures. ON
aha. $4,000 pupils, cost for books
and supplies. $4,000. New Haven
$4,000 pupils, cost fer books. $l2,000
baltimore. $4,000 pupils. cost 70,
books and supplies. $4,000: SYRIA.
cuse. 1890 pupils. cost for books
$4,000.
Tales With Syracuse.
1t is thus seen that Richmond.
school enrolment OF about $4,000 tai
lies well with that of Syracuse, II
the estimate Of $4,000 for the sys
tom here.
As DIR. Chandler pointed out, Biz
mingham is practically the only cit,
in the South which has adopted tn,
free book system. Nashville, he said
was considering the proposition ant
would probably be the next to adop
II. unless Richmond steps in and
takes the honor from her.
| Members K the subcommittee
present were Chairman Pollock ans
Mr. Gunst Those who appeared o,
behalf OF the School Board were
Char man Hutzler Mr.. Ebei and Mr.
Wnlford.
The original free book ordinance
as introduced oy Mr.. Fuller, cali
for an appropriation Of $4,000 I.
Eut the system In operation. whit
the sum of $4,000 is provided TO
maintenance each year thereafter