The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-20

means. When there is a large family II Is
great help and relief 20 have school books which
can be passed down through successive ages
Of boys and girls as they 20 from one grade ana
set of studies to another. We fear there is
tendency among professional school men to De
too technical. too professional. and In dealing
with a matter like this OF school books to de-
vote too much attention to fine points and the
development of their own ideas OF education
and have too little sympathy with the regard
for the actual needs and conditions of the peo-
pie for whom they chosen to act.
Every few years have great commotfon
about "adoptions'' of school books. and, per-
haps far too often, have complete changes
Involving unnecessary burdens OF the hard work
ing and close living providers OF families. The
interests and needs OF these people should be
studied very carefully and first Of all
Here in Virginia have an interest IN the
matter which Is rather exceptional because the
State is the home OF great publishing house
which supplies books, not only to virginia,
but to many other States OF the union. That
fact certainly is to be considered. This house
has beef supplying our schools with many OF
their books. These books are In thousands OF
families carefully kept to be handed down and
representing an investment frequently OF con-
siderable percentage of the family income When
it Ia possible to avoid change with due consid'
Grafton to the welfare and progress of the
pupils change should be avoided. Especially
should we consider our own home enterprise,
after 1t has been proven that outside competi-
tors have Disseminated against our State, or
In favor OF other States. We should have as
few changes g possible not only in the interest
OF the parents of children but .or the welfare
of the children themselves, and the efficiency
Of teachers. who probably have become familiar
with certain books and are put at a disadvantage
by being compelled to use new ones.
Our understanding Is that the books now in
use have the approval of the great majority
of practical working school men and women OF
our State people whose knowledge of Virginia
schools and their needs iA gained from ac,ual
and practical experience and test and not from
any general theoretical foreign born dctums
or maxims Sound policy demands that when
ever 1t Is possible the money paid by our peo-
pie for school books should be kept here at
home Our Virginia publishing house has its
eadquarters in Richmond. but it provides work
for large number OF intelligent and skilled
Virginia working people Of both sexes drawn
from every part OF the State and all of US
know that money carried to Richmond ana
wealth and plants accumulated there is OF ac-
tual advantage to the entire State, whereas
money sent to other States is lost to us and rep
resents steady drain our resources. 1t
looks II would have the right to discrimi
nate In favor of our own institutions. to make
them the means OF drawing to us here millions
OF dollars from outside, especially when outside
bidders have Disseminated against us.
It might be well, by the way for the APP
preaching legislature to look into this matter
Of discrimination 1t Ia quite possible that the
law as II stands is not strong enough to protect
our people from this wrong If 1t Is not 1t
should be made strong enough. II the fear of
losing contract Is not sufficient to keep the
publishers in the straight and narrow pain.
Jaw might 60 further and debar the offenders
from future adoptions. At any rate. something
should be done. either by the Legislature the
board. that will make things exceedingly I'M
comfortab bic for the publisher who dares to
charge the children of Virginia more for their
books than he charges the children of other
States where similar conditions prevail The
fact that the board has decided to consider the
bids in January need not deter the Legislature
from looking into the matter, as the board has
shown commendable determination to make
satisfactory adoption regardless OF the time II
may require. And as the next adoption cannot
go into effect until September /, there Is plenty
of time.-Roanoke Times