The Topeka state journal., 1913-03-17
ROSS DON'T KNOW
State Superintendent on Fence
: About School Book Law.
Was Not Consulted i'm Its Max
ing, So He's Sore.

That Democratic law for the state
publication of school textbooks may
be perfectly good and virtuous bit
of legislation, but w. d. Ross, state
superintendent of public instruction,
has his own opinion of the matter.
superintendent Ross doesn't say-in
just so many words. mind you-that
the textbook law isn't worth a cont1-
mental. He just assumes a disturbed
expression, looks the other way and
remarkes that he didn't have anything
to do with the enactment of this law.
And that's all there is about it.
Ever since this law for the publica-
tion of school textbooks was written
superintendent Ross has each day
locked after the routine affairs of his
own office and behind time lock vaults
in his own breast he has carried his
personal opinion of the law. Possibly
the new plan will work out all right,
Ross says. If it doesn t-well, he didnt
work out the general color scheme and
he won't seek any of the credit Pos
sibly the new plan will be failure.
If it is, Mr.. Ross desires to serve no
tice at this time that he wasn't party
to the contract and no one can fairly
hang the blame on him.
In his Office, Superintendent Ross was
firm in his belief that he positively
wouldn't talk about the new law. No,
Mr.. Ross Was Timid.
Il haven't anything to say about it
at all,'' persisted the successor of E.
T. Fairchild, as he lodged a question
fired from a dozen different angles.
But" persisted a visitor, you are
a member of this commission. Certain
ly you have some idea about this new
law
Yes, yes. Certainly I have an idea"
admitted Mr.. Ross.
Then, what is it?''
We'll, to tell the truth. you see l
didn't have thing to do with draft
irg this bill. Why, the committee
a thing to do with its provisions
But do you think the plan will be
success?'
Il don't know. I can only judge by
the experience of other states
Then Mr.. Ross was asked about the
other states that had tried the plan.
He pointed TO California.
California Law Success Now.
THE report of the state superintend-
ent of California said Mr.. Ross,
shows that the plan there hasn't been
a success. They have tried it for 80
years and until the last few years it
hasn't been at all satisfactory"
rs the Kansas law the same as the
California law?'' was asked.
Really, = don know. hardly think
it is an exact copy. You see neither
myself nor any of the persons inter-
ested in the educational work of the
state we're called before the commit
tee to give our views and don't feel
like discussing the law now
But is the plan of printing school
books in California the same as in
ss.a1r@E
81 don't know as to that. The report
Of the state superintendent, though.
shows that it costs that state more to-
publish certain books than they are
now sold for in Kansas I
Then Superintendent Ross warmed up
to his subject a bit. In very few
words he told what he really thought
of the new plan in Kansas and of the
objections which he found to the pres
ent system of managing the pubIica-
ton of school text books
when the bill was under considera-
tion," said Mr.. Ross, none of the heads
Of the educationa institutions nor my
self were consulted about the provisions
Of the law. So if the law proves a sue
cess, I shall certainly claim none of
the credit. If it isn't successful, I will
surely not be to blame.''
But what are the really objection
able features of the law?" was asked.
He Files His Objections.
We'll, for one reason, there is no
provision in the law for the publication
Of supplemental books. l think that
Is a really bad feature of the law, as
it is impossible to handle our school
work without the supplemental books"
''Is that the only objection?''
mo, think there are some Others"
admitted the state superintendent. Take
FOR instance the personnel of the COM
mission. In my mind it should be COM
IN