Omaha daily bee., 1913-12-28
Article XIV. BY " Member OF The nee 81
Omaha's Public Schools
= Free Text Books.
Annual cost of books 1013), $11 900.
Cost per pupil per year, about "a cents,
Average life of book, five to six years.

They may stand compactly together on
the shelves, yet are aired through a
little vent between the shelves
Now also, in this repository are kept
other supplies, such as stationery, chalk,
erasers, ink, pens and pencils all things
that high school students need Those
articles not furnished free are sold 10
the students at cost. For instance, here
is a bunch of writing paper the pupil
gets for cents, which at regular retail
prices would cost him 10 cents; a cover
for his reference or lecture notes for 8
cents, that sells for II cents elsewhere,
and so on.
Why supply these things7 For the sake
OF system and uniformity, and, then, in
cidentally the students pocketbook. II
is part of education to have all stu
dents using the same sort of stationery,
etc.
AS to the life OF school books, II varies
according to the book and its use. Some
books are not as well bound as others,
yet used more. They naturally wear out
quickest. Some books have been known
to last for seventeen years, others ten,
while others exhaust themselves in less
than five years, so that the average life
Is placed at about five or six years. II
undoubtedly would be less than that but
for the fact that the books are promptly
repaired when injured. In the graded
| schools the pupils do the repairing, them
selves, under the teachers direction. They
have on hand transparent paper made
especially for such purposes and paste
a little bit over a rent, making the page
almost as good as ever Extra caution
I in the use OF books is enjolned on all
children and. considering that each book
passes through the hands OF several boys
and girls from year to year. IT seems not
surprising that the life line averages
about five or SIX years.
AS to the ordering OF books. the teach
ers make up an estimated inventory OF
their needs for the next year in January.
These go to the Board OF Education
which acts on them in May as a rule, and
along about August the new books begin
to come in. They are taken TO the store
and shop building where all school books
are kept, and pass into the custody OF
Mr.. Maynard. Revised inventories are
filled as the school year progresses
This store and shop building is an in
teresting place, one of the hobbies OF
President Holovtchiner, realized since he
came on the board. In this building are
to be found desks tables. shelves, and
everything that goes into a school room
II is the depot, in fact
But the most interesting feature OF this
place is the miniature planning mill and
workshop, In this are made tables. shelly,
ing, cabinets and many an odd article Of
use in or about the schools that the aver,
age taxpayer seldom II ever thinks Of
Forces Of carpenters cabinet makers and
painters are steadily employed. In mum,
ber varying with the demands OF IN,
seasons. Some handsome and artistic
work is turned out OF this shop. Besides
} the new work, repairing is done TO grea
advantage, financially as we'll as other
wise Old school desks, for instance. ar,
worked over, They are planed down 4
the fresh wood and restained and pol
ished. The claim Is made that the plan
nets a big saving every year. 1t occupie
, a brick building OF two stories and base
ment, with outbuildings for special arti
: cles One might wonder why IN erecting
, such a building, the board did not max
Il entirely flreproof