The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-09
HE GIVES ADVICE
Wichita Man Writes State Text
Book Commission.
Declares Children Work Too
Hard i'm School.

John Grampus of Wichita has writ
ten some advice to one of the mem
bers of the new state textbook COM
| mission. And there is much good
sense in his suggestions even though
he goes somewhat to the extreme in
some matters. Mr.. Grampus is strong
for the old books, for common sense,
for an abatement of too much superior
and concentrated education. He thinks
the kiddies are overworked by the
modern methods of rushing them
through a maze of studies and he does
not hesitate to express his mind freely
on all these subjects. Here is what
he writes to the commissioner:
81 want to suggest that we have a
bad school system. Children are over
worked during their growing years
to the very limit of endurance and it
has the same effect as overworl< al
ways has on growing young animals.
There are too many freak books and a
lack of common sense among those
that prescribe curriculums Then each
head of school prides himself on his
efficiency, and besides that there are
lot of useless studies and the poor
Riddles are overloaded until they lust
stagger along on a continual strain.
Little girls have no time to play or
learn homework or take music lessons
All of these things are provided for
in the schools. They take exercise at
regular hours and climb ladders and
do stunts and when I see a procession
of them here IN Wichita on the streets
they travel along with their heads
stuck out in front or hanging down
in a way that shows their gymnastics
has done nothing in the way of setting
up drill which should be the first and
principal thing for health and appear
ance. Why do girls need to climb lad
derS overland?
will the state text book commits
sion fall for the text book graft?
IA n fox
mission which is empowered to pur-
chase manuscripts and copyrights for
text books to be used in the public
schools of the whole state.
But why should the commission
buy manuscripts or copyrights at all?
Old Books as Good as Any.
There are number1ess editions of
school books on which copyrights
have expired that are as good as any
that the commission can possibly buy,
of these as they please without pay
ment of anything.
The books in present use are not
used because they are better than
because the school book trust can
monopolize the sales only on books
on which their copyrights have not
expired.
''since the state is not publishing
for profit it needs no protection from
copyright laws, but if it does want
copyrights it is easy to make slight
additions or changes in books and get
new copyrights.
Readers and Spoilers of Childhood.
The readers and spoilers of our
childhood are as good as ever and as
new to the rising generation as any
other books, and the principles of
grammar and arithmetic are uncharg-
ed. Histories and Biographies can
be added to and brought to date and |
a better all round set of books picked |
out, without payments for copyrights |
or manuscript, than the books now in |
use in our schools.
"Other states with text book corn
missions have very generally fallen |
among wolves in the shape of book
and educators who
have loaded them down with a lot |
trashy books of all sorts. Will the
select these good old
books or will they fall for the book
graft again in a little different form
But whatever is done the books
should be made easier. Children are
protected from factory work but are
ground harder in the prevailing school
system than any factory ever dared
Undertake and nobody seems to see
he irreparable injury that is being
lone. Simplify the studies and save
he children. JNO. GRAMPUJS.'