The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-01-25

NdIuScy Guilty -------- 1910
Pierce county ----------- 1886
Average cost in the four counties,
$15.78.
Cost of same books in Texas, SLOTS.
Saving on each child through the
grades, $500.
The number of children enumerated,
page AZ Of the last report of the sup
erintendent Of public instruction to
the legislature of 1915, was 172,227.
Excessive cost to the taxpayers of
North Dakota for eight years because
we have no state uniformity by bids,
1851, 1876.
Wasteful cost per annum to North
Dakota taxpayers, $107,4 2O.
Such inconsistencies in prices &C.
cur in this state as follows:
Elementary Speller
Ward county, Is cents; Ramsey
county, 20 cents; Wells county, "a
cents.
First Reader
Ward county, 18 cents; Ramsey coun-
ty, rs cents; Wells county, 80 cents.
Arithmetics
Ramsey county, IS, 40, as cents;
Ward county, q, 80, 80 cents.
Advanced Geography
Ward county, SO cents; Wells coun-
| ty, $1.24.
Elementary Physiology
| Ward county, 80 cents; Wells coun-
ty, IS cents-and both use the same
book.
Most of the readers used in this
state are designed to lead the children
to novel reading. In short to train
the children to idleness rather than to
concrete value. A very short study
of the results will convince any one of
this fact.
It should be born in mind that it
costs no more to publish good book
than sorry one, and no book has any
value to the author or publisher I'M
less it gains sale.
Every officer in the army of the
United States is trained after one and
the same system, hence the same make
of guns is in use throughout the Unit
ed States. Just so with the teachers.
All in this state are trained after the
same system Of pedagogics, and they
have the same system in Course of
Study, because it is just as reasonable
that uniform system of textbooks
would expedite and accelerate their
work.
The prime object of a uniform sys-
tenn of textbooks is viz: G) Uniform
| ity in the work throughout the state;
|(2) The selection of the very best
books by the ablest teachers of the
state; (3) Economy to the taxpayers;
az Convenience in the service; (5)
| Segregate the state from the Book
Trust.
The adoption of uniform system
would proceed about as follows: Enact
a law which would provide (a) that
the governor and the presidents of say
five state institutions should appoint a
State Textbook commission of say 80
| teachers, at least three of whom shall
be primary teachers of recognized
ability in country schools. (b) S. T. C.
would receive samples of books from
publishers, with contract and exchange
prices and accompanied with cash
bond of say $500 to bind themselves to
enter into contract and make bond for
the faithful performance of same. (c)
The commission would adopt list of
textbooks from the list submitted or
reject and require new bids on the sub
jects provided for in the act. (d) The
successful bidders would be required
to give bond of say $4,000 for each
book furnished, and the governor and
attorney general, in the name Of the
state, would enter contract with the
publishers. The adoption is usually
for six years. A subcommittee of the
S. T. C. is provided for for the pur-
pose of indicating needed revisions in
the books. There would be a provis-
ion that no one who is related to an
author or agent Of any publishing
house making bids, would be qualified
books adopted would be the basic books