Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-02-16

three dollar quality IN his hat and the
customer paying 81 gets . onc-dollar
value in his hat. SO Il is6in this CON-
parison in Indiana book prices with Mich
igan book prices. The cheap quality OF
text books used in Indiana would not
be and are not acceptable to Michigan.
Michigan pays more for a geography th'n
Indiana. but she gets a much better &C.
%ography. know text hooks in arlthme-
tic that car be purchased for 40 cents.
and I know other arithmetics that cannot
be manufactured for less n S1.00.
Mr.. Husband does not deny, and can-
not refute my statement, that there are
a large number of schools that will not
and do not use the books chosen by the
commission. They buy extra. supple
mentary texts. This greatly adds to the
real expense and makes the books cost
more in uniformity states than else
where. That schools cost more in lndi-
ana than Michigan .s a fact. From the
American Board Journal for February.
1913. pages IS, II and Is, an article en-
titled "A comparative study Of state
school systems by Leonard p. Ayrcs,
Phi. d.: I inc that the cost Of educa-
ton per pupil in 1910 was: Indiana, $40;
Michigan, SIS. That Indiana spends 30.
cents annually for each 500 Of wealth
in tive state, n that Michigan spends
81 cents. From the report of the U. 5.
commission of education for 1911, Vol
umc O. page G88, l find that the cost Of
the schools Of Indiana per capita Of to-
tai population was $3.50 and for Michi-
gan $5.-.. I'm a 6 $50 Of the same re-
port the cost Of the schools per capita
of average attendance was: Indiana,
$50. 25; Michigan, s2S. 27.
Where now is the boosted economy of
the Indiana system? 1t never existed
except in the scl,eming brain of a slrewd
politician or some persons woefully mis-
led and deceived. ~
/ want to prove my contention thal
the Indiana system is unsatisfactory to
the great majority. This is denied by
Mr.. Husband and he gets his information
from Mr.. Greathouse, state supcrintend-
ent of Indiana. and the personal state
mcnt of p rsons who have not made q
careful study Of the matter. ~
In writing to Indiana I got some very
valuable Information from one Of the
supcrintendcnts who served on a com
mittee appointed in 1911 at q meeting
of the Indiana Town and Superintend.
ents' association. Supcrintendents from
the following Indiana cities We're on
that committee to investioate the matter
Of text books: Anderson, Crawford.
Hartford City, Rushville and Lebanon. II
quote herewith their letter, containing a
questionable, which was sent to the
school people Of the state, town. city and
country. Please note that this commit
tee favored uniformity and carefully
note the results Of the inquiry and then
say whether or not I am right in saying
the System in Indiana is in disrepute
and is overwhelmingly unsatisfactory. !
This report ought to be and l believe Is,
absolutely fair and reliable as 1 can find
no evidence of anyone trying to refute
it. 1t was furnished me. not by some
book concern, as inslnuated by Mr.. Hus-
band but by one of the superintendent
who was a member of the committee. |
The letter from this text book committee
follows:
"Rusrville. Indiana. March 20, 1912.
Dear Co. Worker: l9I
This committee has held two meet
ings, organized. and decided to send you
the following questionable. As mem
bers of this committee we wish to state
that we affirm our faith in the uniform
text book law and in the integrity of the
Individual members Of the state board
OF education. 1t is the purpose of the
committee to cooperate with the state
board of education and to secure the
hearty cooperation Of all OF the city.
town and county superintendent with
a large numbers Of supervisors Of in
struction. " .'. b.. rAG<r.
1T is not the purpose of the commit
tee to S%ntagonize any certain texts now
in use, but to get at the adaptability Of
the texts in use INT to ascertain what
the educators Of the state think should
he the leading features Of consideration
Of adopting books in the future. If this
committee can become a clearing house
for the schools OF the state we shall have
accomplished what we think should be
done. .
"a full and frank cooperation Of the
persons to whom this QUESTIONABLE is sent
is necessary TO make this Investigation