The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-22
THE BOARD AND THE BOOKS.

Members Of the State Board of Education rre
at loggerheads over book a8optious for the com
Ing series of years. The direct issue is brought
about by the offer Of one Of the competing com
panies to give reduced price on It's books now
on the list, # those books are readopted for the
coming term. Half Of the hoard thinks that the
books, or more particularly one Of the books. is
not good as others that have been offered
the board. even taking into consideration the
fact that the book now on the list ts offered eft
price tina; will save the state $4,000 rse
total list Of the company that makes the offer
The other half Of the board clings to the belief
that the book is good others that have
been offered. and holds that the fact of the sub
stanttal saving that viii be made, together With
the fact that II the books OF the company are
retained the necessity for sweeping changes
throughout this State Will he obyiated. const
tute conclusive argument for the rcadoption of
the B. r. Johnson Companys books.
OF course there are many angles Of the case
III man is honestly convinced that one book
is not as good as another 1t is rather hard TO
get him to change his mind When he also he
lieves that not even a reduced price, Which II
accepted will save a large amount OF initial ex.
pense and viii also make potential saving OF
d large sum by reason of the fact that many Of
the books already in the possession OF the
pupils the task is still more difficult. OF course
we do not believe that small differences in price
should always prevail In the award Of books.
Neither do we believe that small differences In
the books themselves should be sufficient reason
for changes. Merit and price two questions
that may vary greatly In different books and
under different conditions. Some would sacri
fee everything for mcrit and others would 20
as far for price Both we think. wonld go
wrong.
in the present instance we do not feel that
the Board of Education will be amiss in ac-
cepting the reduced price and retaining the
books. Certainly the books cannot be so very
bad, or they would not have been adopted in
the first instance. Oiher things being equal. the
burden OF proof rests on the new book TO prove
markedly superior qualities TO the old, which
will warrant the board in putting the State e
the expense OF change. II a bool, Is positively
harmful. wrong In theory. and contrary to .th'
hight of modern science why obviously It shouit
that very serious dangers have threatened Vir
ginia children in the past seven years. through
use OF the books on the list. and certainl,
there are many parents who have way 4
educate their children save-in the public schools
to@whom frequent extensive change Of text
hooks means a serious handicap In their efforts
TO educate their children.
However, the purpose Of the creation OF th'
Board Of Education was 10 solve just such ques
items as this. Their decision is final and should
be respected. While We may very reasonabl,
feel that home industries, especially efficient in
dustries offering approximately She same grade
OF books at lower rate deserve the patronage
OF the state. only the board has the power tc
decide the Issue. The decision rests with its
members.