The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-12
STEARNES LEARNS
MUCH ABOUT LOWER
TEXT BOOK PRICES
State Superintendent Of Schools
Home After Trip Into North
and West

r. C. stearnes. superintendent of
public instruction, is back in Rich
mond. after a nine days official trip to
Chicago, st. Paul, and Toronto, Cana
da. The prime object of Superint IN
dent Stearnes journey to the North
west was to attend the meeting Of
the National Education association,
branch of which organization met in
Richmond last February The associ-
alton recognized the Virginia super
tendent in a most pIimentary way
by making him one of its vice-presi-
dents. and by selecting him as mem
Der Of the important committee ap-
pointed to seek franklng PRIVILEGES
for publications of State departm
of education, President f H. Rus
sell. of the state normal school,
Fredericksburg. Va who. also. at
tended the meeting. at ST. Paul was
made the n. E a. director for this
State.
The Virginia superintendent, while
out Of the Old Dominion, came in con-
tact with scores of famous educators,
and. incidently. he learned much
about textbook prices. matter 10
which he has. Of late, devoted great
deal Of time and study. Among the
well known school people Superin-
tendent Stearnes met were Mrs, O
Shepherd Baruu. a member Of the
California State hoard of eduCa ton.
and DR.. NJ. T.. SThallenberger, of Sac
ramenfo. the State supervisor Of Cali
fornfa rural schools
Renting Plates Works Well
Both Of the ladies' from the Pacific
coast state informed superintendent
Stearnes that CALIFORNIA; system Of
renting book plates was working ad
mirabiv They said that the plan
had passed the experimental stage
and that concerns which heretofore
had rented plates, instead OF showing
signs of distress at having entered
into the bargain. were more anxious
ly seeking the renewal of their con-
tracts In word the women educa-
tors assured Superintendent Stearnes
that California has no reason TO com
plain of her system Of renting book
plates. and that the publishers seem
equally we'll satisfied.
From St Paul. Superintendent
Stearnes ran over to Toronto in order
to post himself on the Canadian sys-
tenn Of adopting and distributing text
books The province of Ontario, It
will be recalled, has, perhaps. the
cheapest textbooks in the worId---a
fact due TO its plan OF using plates
prepared by the government or rented
from the publishers,
Or Pyne. the minister IF educa-
ton. with whom superintendent
Stearnes had most agreeable inter-
view. Informed the Virginia superin-
tendent that the Ontario schools were
in fine condition. and that the people
were obviously satisfied with the pro-
gress they were. making This was
thoroughly demonstrated In the recent
heated campaign. when the position
Of the government was attacked
along almost all lines except as to the
character and price Of textbooks
low Prices of Textbooks.
Ontario has smaller school
population than Virginia Her pres
ent plan Of publishing textbooks has
resulted in prices which seem almost
incredibly low. especially in view Of
the fact that the volumes are stoutly
bound and well illustrated
The 1914 report on the preparation
and cost of textbooks in the province
If Ontario. according to a pamphlet
from the presses of l. X. Cameron.
Printer 10 the Kings Most Excellent
Majesty" in abiding to reading books,
says:
The retail price Of set Of the old
readers was sl,l5; that of the new
readers is forty nine cents The saw
ing to the purchasers on the number
~ ne" readers soiu from pubHcauon
In August. 1909 to the end of 1918,
compared with that OF an equal num-
her of the old readers, was si6s.l00.
Estima ting future savings at the sa me
rate. the total savings on the readers
during the term of the contract will
exceed 100000
The testimony Of the California and
Ontario authorities strengthens SUI
perintendent Stearnes' belief that
cheaper textbooks can be procured
FOR Virginia