The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-24

at this adoption unless II shall APP
pear from the official statements
aforesaid that at least one-fourth
Of the division superintsndents
reporting declare the book unsatisfac-
tory: provided. however. that patrons
of schools shall be given the beneht
of the adoption of any book of equal
merit which is offered at a lower price
And again when the board met for
the final adoption, to-wit, on February ,
20, 1915, the following program was tn
sisted upon by the State superinten-
dent:
From every quarter of the State
| have been requested as Superinten-
dent of Public instruction to set my
face against sweeping and frequent
changes in textbooks. and now see
more plainly than ever the justice OF
this demand. With the exception of !
language books both in the cities and
in the counties, and the United States
and Virginia histories. I know of no
extensive demand among either the
teachers or the patrons of schools for
changes In textbooks. Fortunately we
are able to make all Of these necessary
changes without loss 10 the State. BY
security the right to use copyrights
and plates we may eliminate the mid
die man entirely and print our Ian
guage books and histories at such
small cost that we would save money
by making the changes even If the
books already in use were satisfactory.
So far as the elementary list Is con-
cerned. therefore, I recommend to the
board that no changes be made except
those already indicated But In max
ing this statement | wish to say that
I am not including the subjects OF
drawing. writing and music, as books
of that character are either used only
by small number of pupils or pass
away with the using, SO as TO be neces-
sariiy changed year by year.
"'If any other first class books are
offered at prices that Will result in q
saving to the patrons of the schools,
notwithstanding the incidental and
necessary expense OF making the
changes. I recommend that the offer
be accepted with unswerving determi-
nation and regularity. as I am firmly
convinced that the State, whenever
possible, should cease paying retail or
near retail prices for books.
Ontario Books. Il
Colonel Ford's reference TO the On
tario books is -singularly unfortunate
and self-contradictory. He speaks of
my 'springing' the Ontario books on
the board at the April meeting, as IL
I had just discovered their prices when
TO my (Col. Ford's) certain knowl-
books in his possession and was in
formed OF their prices several months
before this OF course Colonel Ford
had this knowledge for had exhibited
and commented on the Ontario books
In his presence at the preceding No
vember or December meeting of the
board
why such Information concerning
lower prices should be embarrassing
to any member of the board is past
my comprehension.
Statement TO Press
The next day so. after the On
tario episode, says Col, Ford. the
State superintendent, without sanction
or warning, Issued a statement giving |
what purported to be a comparison
California. thus making ii appear to
the public that he alone was looking |
out for the peoples interests
"Col. Ford forgets that the statement !
In reference to California prices was |
not issued until after the next meeting !
of the board, which was held May Is |
That statement was based on the re-
port OF the committee on prices and |
was given to the press by the secre |!
.tary of the board as part OF the regular
routine. The Superintendent OF Pub |
lie Instruction had nothing to do with !
its publication.
"Cpl. Ford forgets that the statement |
which he criticizes was signed by the /
Governor and Attorney General, as
well as by. the Superintendent of Pub I
lie Instruction: otherwise he would
have recognized the unenviabia posi-
tion In which he now places himself 7
BY asserting that three Of his fellow
+ ~ 80