Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-25
sTEARNEs COMMENTS
ON TEXTBOOK CHANGES
Extra Burden Of 100000
on People.
MAKES ADDRESS AT HOUSTON
Candidate for Reelection as School
Superintendent Says Average At
tendance Has Increased So Per
Cent In Past Ten Years.

That the recent change in textbooks
in the schools of Virginia, as directed
by the State Board of Education. has
laid AN extra burden approximating
100000 upon the people of the State
was the striking statement made Mon
day by L. c. Stearnes. Superintendent
of Public Instruction. during the course
OF an address in the interest of his
candidacy for reelection. before n
large and representative gathering at
Houston. in Halifax County. With this
one exception tho meeting was devoid
Of sensational features.
Celebrating this point, Mr.. Stcarnes
said:
Very much to my regret. and over
my protest which is matter of rec
changed about siXty-five per cent of
the elementary books. and also in
creased the number of titles on, the
elementary list. until child in Vir-
ginia may now be required to buy
hundred and thirty-one books Unclud-
ing copy hooks and music books) on
the elementary list. and in the primary
and grammar grades as against eighty
three on the old list. The result is
that our book bill has not only been
phenomcnal!y large on account Of the
change of textbooks. but 1t will con-
tinue to be large on account of the
multiplication of texts in the new list.
Recently I have secured statements
from several local dealers, and in every
instance I find that the merchant has
sold practically four times as many
books during the past two years as no
sold during the session imme1 lately
preceding the 1915 adoption
PURCHASING TWICE AS MANY
BOOKS AS BEFORE
This means that the State has pur-
chased twice many books each year
rs it accustomed to purchase be-
fore the adoption went into effect. The
evidence tended to show that our an
nual hook BILL prior to the new adop-
ton. was $4,000 or S25O,O0o. II the
reports received trom these local deal
crs. widely scattered throughout the
state. are a true index to the tax that
has been placed upon the State by the
change Of textbooks. the total amount
to date will approach n half million
dollars. And, as ! have before stated.
the heavy charge is obliged to be
continuing one. as our present com
pick list of books-basal. first supple
mcntary, optional supplementary and
general supplcmentary-is Obliged to
be an expensive one.
1--WE have centralized and simplifed
our organization until fourteen per-
sons are doing three times as much
work as twelve accomplished in 1906
In other words we have reduced the
state operating expenses from eight
tenthS of one per cent in 1906 TO five
tenths in 1917. although our scale OF
wages necessarily has been increased
by the higher cost of living | chal.
lengc any State Department beyond tho
borders of This State. or any local de-
partmcnt of school administration with
In the State. to show better record
than this.
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE
INCREASED 81 PER CENT
Il believe 1t is conceded that I had
the privilege of starting the one room
school movement, and OF being one OF
the men who originated the one and
TWO room school fund. This, however
was bit the logical result of my work
as division superintendent; for I was
Il county superintendent and not a city
superintendent. ard labored fourteen
years among the country schools maxi
ing speciality of the one room school
we have increased the enrolment
or our public schools as much during
the past four years as it was increased
during the preceding twenty-four wears
The duty of making a comparison be-
tween Virginia and our sister State
OF MinneSota-a State which has a
reputation almost exactly equal that
or Virginia-brought to my attention
another very striking proof Of the
good work our teachers have been do.
ing In this behalf ! am sure that few
Ss,oVoooo III revenue, and little or no
persons realize that Virginia with only
compulsory attendance enrolled II
500 more children in 1856 than Min
nesota with S2S.0o0.oo0 In revenue. and
statewide compulsory attendance
law"
In concluding the superintendent de-
ciared that the average attendance in
the schools of the State had increased
Hfty-twO per cent JDripr the 49,.