Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-04
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Free Text Books.


 i Mr. Editor: The question of whether or not free text books shall be fur l nished to the pupils of the public i schools of the town comes up for a vote by open ballot next Monday. Two years ago it lost by only four votes. At that time our schools had not been l consolidated and many people thought i it would be best to wait until we had ! one system of management and 8 uni 1 form set of books This has been 1 gained. The next step in the way of 1 improvement and progress is to vote 1 for free text books.
 l Of the 16S towns in the state PA 1 towns supply text books free. Norwich is one of the few large towns which does not
 There are four principal reasons urged against free text books, viz: Ex- pense abuse of books, unhealthful and pupils are forced to use books l misused by others. (Jane Grey). I should like to say something on those four points as a citizen, a taxpayer and an ex-teacher. First, as an eX- teacher, having worked under both systems, let me say from that expe- rience that there is nothing to be said against and everything to be said for free text books.
 Now as to expense. Meriden with population and school enumeration of about one-siXth greater than ours
 
 S2,041.31. It should not cost us more. 4 small item. It is costing the people of this town much more than this each year for the town can buy by wholesale and the individual parents are buying by retail Then, too, the parents have to buy new set of books each year, while the town could use the same books for a, number of years. So it is much cheaper to the people of the town to buy and own collectively than individually. But, someone says, I have no children. Why should I pay for other peoples chill dren? He denies himself children that he may accumulate property. He denies or sacrifices himself to the good of society. What would property be worth if there were no children7 Nothing. Then he who has children property of the childless man. So- ciety for its own good should give every child the best possible oppor- tunity for development. We do not half fulfil our duty in this line. And the cost should come out of him who can best afford 1t and benefits most by if, the property holder. Thus free text books are cheaper and he who benefits most and can best afford the cost of education has to share in the cost.
 When 1t comes to care of books ex-
 
 owned books can and will be better taken care of than privately owned books. A child who is naturally neg ligent and careless can be made to care for public property when 1t would be impossible to make him care for his own. Where the pupils own their own books there are always a number who think it smart to show how reck- lessly Wasteful and destructive they can be. They are usually the pupils who can least afford to be wasteful. Their parents are perhaps indifferent, they have bought the books, the books are only expected to last a year any way. and they must do 1t. These books may be sold to someone else as second hand books.
 Tn regard to books and health what applies to care of books applies here. If publicly owned books are in bad condition or have been subject to in lection they may be destroyed but if private property what can you do ex- cept in extreme cases? You should see the samples of private property (which because it is his own property the child will be so careful of CD ) that I have seen. And yet a child with any book, it may be without cov- CTS or most of the pages loose or gone. is better than a pupil with no book.
 In regard to misused books passed on to other pupils We think nothing of going to the public library and get ting books which have been passed. I have no doubt but what some par ents would prefer that their childreN have absolutely new books for their personal use Doubtless the school officials would provide such with books at cost But to tell you the truth I do not remember Of single case, in my experience, where anyone has wish ed to do so.
 To sum up: The expense to the town is less because we buy wholesale and get more wear and use out of the books. The expense comes on all, and