Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-02-09
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Editor Tribune: SO man, misstate-
ments have been made by the opponents
of the bin init oduced by myself provid-
ing for uniform text books in this state
that | feel 1t my duty to correct at least
a few Of these.l lnasmuch as the conclu-
sion we must arrive at as to the merits
of uniform text books must be based
upon the actual facts of experience where
uniformity has been tried, it becomes es-
sential that these facts be correctly and
truthfully set forth. In the discussion
which follows 1 vintend to set forth these
facts, not as they have been related to
me by book companies or parties pecu-
niarily, interested in the defeat of my
bill, but rather as l have learned them
from men and educators in positions OF
responsibility IN states where uniform
text book laws have been in operation for
a number of years.
Being a farmer and having been off,
cially connected in a small way with
the local administration Of some of our
school laws, / have no other interest in
the fortunes Of the bill as presented ex-
cept that of a citizen who wishes to see
1t made as easy as possible for the work.
ing mar and the tenant who moves from
place to place, to educate his child.
A good deal has been said in the press
and by private lobbyists about the ex-
perience of states where uniformity has
been tried and statements ave been
made quite freely that these states have
found uniformity inimical to progress and
4, bor1;oo, to n1,,ookinpo o5vn nconnonf
Tho assertion has been made hat edu-
Gators in these states are almost univer-
sally opposed to the plan and disguised
with it's operation. Fol the present, I
shall not discuss the sources Of the in
formation which the opponents of my
bill claim to possess, but i shall, lay be-
fore the. readers of this. paper the opin-
ions Of educators az cxpress-d IN let
ters Of recent dates.
all the members of the legislature. Miss
Beatrice Johnston of Grand Forks states
that Indiana is disguised with it." Sim
liar statements have been made by other
educators in this state, but the facts are
tina instead of being disgustcd with it,
educators in Indiana from the state SUI
perintendent down the line, are almost a
unit IN favor Of the plan. The state su-
perintendent, Mr.. Greenhouse, in a letter
dated January 14th, 1913, writes as fol-
lows: 1T is my judgment that we can
secure better text books under the uni
form text book law . | an safe
in saying that the great majority of the
school people in this state are heartily
-, =, .,-1. To- 40 ,r <1,o ,,S;fprp,,
text book law" ~ i ~
Mr.. Greenhouse sent me a copy Of the
new educational directory Of Indiana Civ
ing the names Of school officers and city
superintendent and high school teach.
ers. From this directory / s~elected~at
random a number Of names m address,
ed letters of inquiry to each relative to
The operation Of the uniform text book
law, and here is what some Of them say:
Superintendent Arthur Deamer, Of La
porte. writes, under da.e Of the 21st Of
January, 1913, as follows: In replying,
] wish to state that the result Of uni
formity has been very successful in In
diana ever since the law was passed,
and has met with the approval of pat
rons and school people as we'll" Super
%intendent j.. G.. Collicott Of the city
schools of Indianapolis, under date Of
January goth, 1913, writes as follows:' II
believe the majority of. the school SUI
perintendents in our state approve of the
uniform text book law. Before 'becom-
ing, a member of the state board, I had a
very high regard for each Of it's members
II : is my opinion That this method Of
selecting books had been very satisfac-
tory"
Mr.. F.. r.. Callahan, superintendent Of
the city schools Of Cavalier, who taught
school in Indiana for several years be-.
fore coming to North Dakota, two years
ago, writes as follows, among other
things: 81 want to say to you without
any reservations that. after several years.
work under such q law that ] certainly
favor 1t, both from the standpoint OF the
principle involved and from its successful
working. Better text books are q result