Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13
RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 49, 1916

I by tho Johnson Company itself Their,
was no v;;v great saving when the
| prices were compared with the books
! finally adopted rather than with the
| previous bic of the same company. In
! every case upon which l had to decide
| the book upon which their bid was
oaSed was III my judgment. essentially
new book, and, therefore, Il change
Among tho four books. two seemed to
me vastly i ferior to the books finally
adopted: one l considered unfit under
any condition to be used in the grade
for which 1t was offered. and the
spoilers were not completed nor was
tho major portion ever submitted to
mo. even In manuscript form. / was.
therefore. convinced that the interests
OF the children of Virginia demanded
that l vote against 4 proposition which
was contingent upon tho adoption OF
books to me manifcstly unsatisfactory.
CONSULTED ENrERTS
AS TO BOOKS ADOPTED
when 7 came to consider tho indi-
vidual books. not only was 1 convinced
in my personal Judgment, for reasons
set forth below. that each book for
which l voted was greatly superior to
those In use or those moved for adop-
ton by any member OF the board. but
every expert and practical teacher to
whom / submitted the two sets of books
for examination reported strongly I'm
tho three members OF the board who
advocated the Johnson books. the Gov
crnor and the Attoruey-Gcneral. stated
in my presence in Il board meeting that
they had not studied the books. bat
trusted to the advice of educators,
whose opinions they trusted. Two Of
the authorities so quoted by one or
more of them stated TO me that they
had not reviewed the books that wcro
finally adopted; and a third later wrote
n strong recommendation OF the arith-
metic for which | voted. Moreover In
tho minutes OF the board meetings sent
me. Superintendent Stcarnes was re-
corded as not cOncurring in commit
tees report in favor of the Johnson
offer. giving as his reason that he had
not finally made up his mind rs to
the merits of their arithmettcs
JUDGMENT CONFIRMED
ny OPINIONS OF OTHERS
For these reasons felt that my own
Judgment was we'll confirmed by al
most n unanimous opinion of all who
had compared the competing books.
felt. therefore, that no consideration
should offset what consider the mani
fest interests OF the schools OF Nir-
GINA.
Finally taking he books indi
vidually. I consider that the arithme-
facture. In cont"n; and IN method The
counts upon which this superiority Is
most noticeable were:
!. Excellence in general method.
2. Attractiveness and thoroughness
OF presentation.
s. Practical and useful material
used. especially from industrial and
country life.
:. Interest and variety NJ reviews.
3. Tcachableness and adaptability to
schools Of different types. The sub
iect matter is so arranged and pre-
scented that even In the hands of an
unframed teacher the child should be
able to learn.
S. y good working manual furnish
cd free TO teachers. explaining the
method Of presentation and directing
! the teachers work.
READER SELECTED IS
MARKEDLY SUPERIOR
/ Tho Fifth Reader selected is. in my
/ opinion. markedly superior In every
respect OF physical manufacture, lit
erary content and educational meth
/ DDS. The most outstanding points OF
superiority are here listed:
l. Superior literary quality of ma
terial Included.
.. Excellent grading in Language
and thought content.
3 Adaptahility to grade for which
II Is intended by the peculiar interest
~ the selections to the pupils.
1. Superior teachablcncss. resulting
from aids and methods in presentation
as, for example, the questions and
notes at the end OF each selection.
.. Advantages of teachers manual
available without cost.
C. y greater amount OF reading ma
tcr'0L reducing tho actual cost by
pages to the public.
There was finally no great division
upon tho hoard in regard TO the SUI
pcr.arity OF tho spoilers and Virginia
history adopted. consider, however
that the spoilers were cheaper in cost
NJ reasons further for preferring tn,
sp"llcr and Virginia history text are
essentially expressed in the genera
statement above given.
REPORT OF BOARDS
N0T MADE PUBLIC
The report Of the board to the Sen
ate being In tho nature OF an onicia
action, was not given out Ivy the Stat
Board Of Education, and will not be
come public property until that bod,
shall have received II II differed II
several essential details from tn
original and gave in a clear mannc
the opinions of the hoard rs to why tn
recent textbook changes were adoptc
The main theme Was that the chill
drcn of Virginia ar" entitled to tn
best schoolhooka there arc. The boar
would consider price for what 1t 1
: worth IN tho aggregate; but did no
: feel that tho children ought 10 be mad
to suffer when littlc more could hav
been paid ana far better books coul
: have been secured.
AS CHEAP IN Virginia
AS IN ANY OTHER STAT
a Tho prices offered for the books. n
. claimed by the board, are ~ cheap /
n Virginia as In any other State. an
. therefore If othor states supply III
best books to their students. VIII
= shouldn't Virginia?
d Thc board bad the nvn,ych inicntin