The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-03-26

school books. He would put in our
schools such abominable books as
the Ontario primer or any other sor-
ry books if the price could be re-
duced. Our children are entitled to
the best that the genius and talent
of men and women can give. Of
course we want these books at the
cheapest prices available, but the
quality Of the books is even more
important. Over five hundred thous-
and school children in Georgia spend
only about one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars annually for school
books, or an average of about thirty
cents per child. Georgia has one of
the cheapest book lists in the coun-
try, and much cheaper than that of
most other States. Books do not
cost SO much that our children can
not have the best.
He argues that the cheap books of
Ontario have given lower illiteracy
than Georgia has. The relative IL
literacy standing is not due to the
cheap books of Ontario, because the
system was only a few years ago
adopted, and we have not had time
to measure the effect on illiteracy.
The large negro population, the lack
of compulsory education laws, in
adequate school support and facili-
ties, explain Georgias high illiteracy
rate. Our State has cheaper books
and spends less per pupil for books
than most States that have lower
illiteracy rates. This would seem to
reverse the argument of Mr. Nc
Crory.
AS practical teacher and school
superintendent, I have learned that
good books are indispensable if we
are to make the greatest educational
progress. Books are to our schools
what tools and machinery are to the
shop, mill, or factory. AS these bust
ness enterprises must have the best
tools and machinery, so must the
modern schools have the best books.
The pupils and teachers without
good books are like the carpenter
and his workman with sorry tools.
AS Mr.. McCrory suggests, I believe
in getting the best books, good teach
ers, good school houses, and good
schools for our children. Let us
have the best of these even if they
do cost more. [ am proud Of my
position in the matter
I said that I doubted the existence
of a school book trust and Mr. Nc
Crory discusses at length this state
ment. He produces a letter show
ing that a certain company was a
few years ago prosecuted in Texas as
a trust. Ny understanding is that a
school book trust would be an or
ganiatiZon of all the book companies
into one and the eliminating of COM
petition. In our recent adoption
forty companies engaged in the
charpest competition and twenty
seven secured contracts.
Let us grant the one company
mentioned is a trust. What about
the others that do business in Texas?
Before a company can solicit bust
ness in Texas it must submit to the
Acknowledgement, Governor, and
other statehouse officers of Texas
the names of it's management, stock
holders, must prove that every own
err, employee of each company has
no interest whatsoever in any book
concern. The Texas laws are very
stringent. Yet more than forty
companies qualified under the laws
of Texas and twenty-seven secured
contracts. The argument of Texas
is that there are at least forty COM
panies that are not trusts.
He says the bids of the companies
are all the same and show lack of
competition. The bids on the book
on agriculture ran from fifty-four to
SpVentV-fVa cents. first reader from