The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-02
DR.. HARDINC'S IDEAS.
She Places Pointed Question Concern
ing School Books Before Capper.
To the Editor State Journal:

To the Editor State Journal:
In this mornings Capital the board
of education is quoted as having
unanimously adopted a resolution
more definitely specifying the books
that may be used in the public high
schools and authorizing the purchase
of such supplementary books are
needed in the elementary schools
The board is further quoted say
ing that numerous efforts usually led
by the undersigned have been made
to prevent the use of supplemental
books.
If the board is properly quoted this
is just another miSStatement on their
part in an effort to assist those inter-
ested in making the purchase of
school books a burden to the people.
1 am opposed to the purchase of sup
Elemental texts but on the ground
that they are being used in violation
of law and not simply because they
are supplemental books. Only last
fall a complaint was asked for against
Mary Harrison becuse she compelled
the pupils to purchase German texts
in violation of law.
This was just before the election
and Mr.. Atchison pleaded with me not
to insist on the issuance of the COM
plant and agreed that he would see
that DO other violation was permitted
| in the Topeka schools. Superinten-
dent Wilson came to my office sew
| erah tunes ana DeSS6d me not TO IN
SiSt that Mr.. AtchiSOn issue the war
rant and admitted that she had Vio-
| lated the law and that he would see
that the law was obeyed thereafter.
! Mr.. Ellsworth, secretary of the
teachers association, says that In al
most every city the law is being VIC
! lated in the use of illegal books. Only
last month an investigation was made
| at Manhattan and it was found that
| in several grades in those schools
they were using books in violation of
| law. The matter was brought to the
attention of the attorney generals Of
| flee and also to Governor Capper. Will
| Governor Capper prosecute these vio-
| lators of the law?
| The resolution adopted by the board
| last night was made to assist those
trying to change our present law by
| the enactment of a bill which is the
most vicious piece of school book leg
islation ever introduced in the Kansas
legislature.
1t nullifies the price in our present
law and the number of books to be
used. 1t makes the field wide open
for the use of any and all kinds of
| books which teachers or boards of
education can suggest. 1t goes fur
Their and provides that without vote
! of the people the board of education
can levy tax in addition to the gem
eral school tax to pay for any and all
books purchased. So as far as fixing
the price is concerned the law is a
! joke and provides that Kansas shall
not pay more to the book companies
than other states pay. The wording of
/ the penalty has been so changed that
teachers could do practically as they
pleased and could not be prosecuted
under the law. The bill which 1 refer
| to is house bill No. 1865
Everyone knows that the taxes
made necessary to cover the expense
created by the board of education are
enormous and out of all proportion to
the needs of the schools and yet the
board of education in the resolution
passed last night has endeavored to
! lend their aid to the enactment of a