Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-11
Text Books.

ext Books.
Textbook introductions and the re-
| lations between book men and su-
perintendeats We're discussed by su-
perintendent John A. Gone of Bruins
wick and George F. Moore of Boston
Mr.. Cone said, in part:
"The so-ealled book contest should
| be avoided as one avoids calamity
Usually 1t is unnecessary, leads to
waste of time and money on the part
| both of the publishing houses and the
town or city, causes among some of
| the publishers and their agents the
unpleasant feeling that they have been
unjustly treated, frequently leads to
| a suspicion of questionable methods,
| and often ends in the selection of
| book not wanted either by the teach
erS or the superintendent. ] see no
| good reason why the book contest is
ever necessary. The selection could
be better made quietly. and without
| the publicity often attendant upon
| such controversies. We all know what
| the book contest is at its worst, and
| at its hest it is quite sure to possess
| unpleasant features. 1t becomes pub
| licly known. that Il change is to be
made in a certain textbook The va
rious representatives of the different
| publishing houses hasten to the town
Sample copies are freely distributed
among teachers and school officials.
| The points of excellence of the vari-
Gus textbooks are pointed out by the
| book men and sometimes, the weak
| points of competitors book are men,
| toned. If the contest ended here, no
/ .,fio u I,,, 6
| the choice is not promptly made, the
| merits of the various books are like
| ~ to be forgotten or pushed aside,
and it becomes matterkof pull, push,
| personal influence and prejudice The
book selected wins not on it's own
merits. but on the skill of its hacker
| as a lobbyist. l believe that the book
| men themselves and their publishers
| would WELCOME the permanent elmina-
| ton of the book contest.
/ While the superintendent should
not be obliged to depend upon the
| judgment of the committee in the
matter of selecting books, he should
| rely very much upon the advice and
| experience of his teachers. This he
| should do not only because their ad
| vice would be valuable. but as mat
| ter of policy. Teachers will have more
| interest in a textbook IL they have
bad hand in its introduction and
| they are educators whose criticisms
| are especially valuable as their judg-
| ments are derived from personal con-
tact with the children to be taught
| and personal knowledge of actual
needs A superintendent has 50 many
burdens which he cannot escape. that
1t seems pity not to allow others to
share some of them, when they are
perfectly willing so to do.
THE final decision in regard to an
adoption should be made not by the
| teachers, or by the school commit
tee, but by the superintendent. This
final decision should, however, be
reached only after a thorough exam
i ination of the book itself an investi-
| cation into the results obtained in
other places where it has already been
introduced, and after a thoughtful re-
| gard for the opinions of the best
| local teachers.ea
/ 1T is taken for granted that a SUI
| perintendent is selected with care by
1 the school committee. II then, he is
| regarded by them as fit for the posi-
| ton. he should be given authority
| commensurate with his responsibility
If he is not equal to the responsible
| ity placed upon him, it is the duty of
the committee to find his successor
| 1t is wise law which provides that
/ the superintendent shall have the pow
er of confirming these nominations.
| believe the same plan should be fol-
1 lowed in the selection of textbooks
lott in,
/ holding a superintendent responsible
| for the professional efficiency of the
| schools under his charge. and, at the
| same time, taking from him the right
| to select the proper tools by which
this efficiency is to be brought about"
| From Publishers Viewpoint.
| Mr.. Moore, taking up the subject
| from the viewpoint of the publishers and
their representatives, gave a straight
| from-the- shoulder" talk. In part he
said:
| There never is any trouble in market
! ing college textbooks, there seldom is any
| friction in marketing High school books,
| because the selection of such books is
| left in the hands of educational experts.
| School book troubles are generally in
connection with the adoption of books
| for the common schools, because school
| boards persist in distating to or overrul-
| ing their proper agents in these affairs.
1.-THE school board furnishes the arena
| for too much conflicting personal opin-
Mon, prejudces. and sentiment to be
able to render an impartial judgment on
| such questions
1.-THE initiative In changing common
| school books should be left to the SUI
perintendent of schools, and his recon-
mendations should be accepted by the
| school board unless gross incompeteney
or injustice appear in his handling of
sucl matters. The choice of High school
| books should with equal justice be left
| to the High school principal, assisted by
| his teachers"
Both superintendent and principal
should consult their teachers freely, and
| should give the bookmen full opportu-
! nifty to present their case on its merits.
and insist that 1t be presented on its
merits alone.