The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1913-12-18

contract for 1914-19 is SITS
per set. There are about
100000 school children in Georgia
at present. With those who go to
school not of school age and the
large number to become of school
age in the next five years it an be
safely estimated that at least 100000
children will pass through this set
Of books in five years. The new set
was advanced .05c. Therefore, the
State Board Of Education gave the
Book Trust $25,000.00 more this
time than it did five years ago.
$25,0O0.OO in the space of three
days, to renew contract and swap
around dickering to the favorite
companies! A miserable shame, an
everlasting disgrace, a crime upon
the fair escutcheon of Georgia, that
the innocent school children of the
State should be forced to pay tribute
to such organized political trick
SterS.
Sing of Georgia's products, crate
upon her advantages, proclaim her
resources, live upon her bOunties,
send her commerce to foreign shores,
but when it comes to guarding her
educational interest and the welfare
of her 100000 school children, the
tTeachery Of Ephialtes at the Pass
Of ThermOpylae, the conspiracy Of
Catiline in proud Rome, the treason
of Benedict Arnold at West Point,
are no worse than the betrayal Of
the States educational interest into
the hands of the merciless book cor
pOratiOns.
The American book Co. got ~ con-
tracts, including the best sellers, D.
G. Heath & Co. 8.
In Kansas a set Of books cost $3.50
and in Ontario only $2.66 The Com
pany that monOpolizees Georgia
can't enter Texas nor Ontario.
VIII the State Board of Education
publish the bids submitted? The
people have a right to know about
their own affairs, The peoples rep
resentatiyes wrestled with these bids
three days in secret session. The
peoples children are wOrsted to the
amount of $25,0OOO0. Can the
State Superintendent Of Education
explain?
The recent selection for the four
year high school course illustrates
stronger than ever the political pow
er Of the book agents and their siren
influence upon public officials. The
contract was secured in many cases
at regular catalog prices. On some
books only ten per cent discount
was allowed. The selection of two
books in this course raises q question
that the Legislature should answer:
Are men high up in political life
really competent to select the books
for the common schools? The Ques-
ton is illustrated by the selection of
the texts on Bookkeeping and the
History Of American Literature. In
the American Book Co.'s catalog,
page 452, William and Rogers First
Lessons in Bookkeeping is listed,
400 PIP. price $O.70." The State
Board took it at 60 cents. The book
is worthless. William and Rogers
New IntrOductive Bookkeeping is
listed just below it on the same page:
"131 PIP. price $1.00." The State
Board of Kansas got this book in
their 1912 contract for 40 cents.
Can some one explain how this was
done? Did the American Book Co.
hypnotic the State superintendent?
But here comes the straw that
breaks the camePs back and causes
the elephant to groan beneath his
burden: "Halleck's History of
American Literature" The book
should be called "Halleck's History
Of New York and New England Liter
~,