New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-08-26
SOME FACTS CONCERNING
THE SCHOOL BOOK ADOPTION

THE SCHOOL BOOK ADOPTION
Through the columns OF your paper
I wish to say a few things to the
school patrons concerning the recent
school book adoption.
In the first place | am assuming
that all are familiar with the law OF
the State OF New Mexico concerning
a book adoption; that the State Board
of Education is vested with full pow
er to adopt a system OF school books
for the use of the elementary public
schools of the state for a period of
years not to exceed six. In 1915
books had been adopted under con-
tracts expiring June Is, 1921. During
the school year OF l9l9-30 considerable
complaint had come to the State Board
OF Education IRON different school
communities that much delay and IN
convenience had been caused from
the meager supply OF school books
available IRON certain publishers, The
matter was taken up with the school
book companies and it was found
that these book concerns had set UP
as an excuse that on account OF the
scarcity of paper and OF unsettled lab
conditions. strikes and contested freight
yards they had been unable to meet
the demand for text books, but had
been doing the best they could un-
der the circumstances. At a meeting
o. the State Board of Education held
in Santa Fe in August 1920 repre-
sentatives OF several book publishing
concerns were present along with a
representative OF the New Mexico
School Book Depository and the pros
poets for the coming school year were
| discussed as 10 the available sup'
/ ply of text books, and upon the ad-
vice of these parties and in concur
renee with the best judgment of ad-
ministration school officials OF the
State it was decided by the State
Board of Education to consider ar
early adoption OF text books to be
advisable to the end that there might
not be any delay in supplying the
books to the schools of New Mexico
| for the year beginning September
| 1921. The matter was referred to the
Attorney General, who gave it as his
opinion that the State Board would
not only be acting with the discre-
ton, but wholly with the scope of its
authority if the adoption were made
before the first of January 1921.
A further consideration made it de-
sirable that some action be taken
with reference to an early adoption
Contracts on three text books had al
ready expired in August 1920, and
when the proposition was made to the
companies publishing these books that
they continue to supply the schools
OF the State of New Mexico for al
least year at the old price under
their contracts they refused to do so
saying that the price OF paper, labor
freight etc, had so increased that II
was out OF reason to expect them tc
continue to supply text books at priee'
fixed six years go. The State sup
erintendcnt of Public Instruction was
directed to write to State Board oi
Z Education in other states to ascertain
Z il similar conditions prevailed there
and from every state in the unlor
came the reply that they were no
Iexpecting books to be supplied undei
! new contracts at the price they OBJ
isained six years ago. Other states a
that time had made their calls for bid
/ and were proceeding to adopt Texas
| dopted a week or two before the ad
option in New Mexico; Indiana haC
planned to make her adoption a weel
or two later and Arizona had issued
her cali for bids for an adoption e
be completed very early in 1921. /
would appear therefor that the actor
Of the State Board of Education 1t
adopting books in December 1870 wa:
not premature, but was consistent wit
action taken in other states 'or the
supply of text books for the schoo
wear lo2l-25. Subsequent eNperienc,
OF certain companies awarded cen.
tracts IN New Mexico would appear
10 confirm the action OF the STATE
Board as none too early. A lettei
on file with me bearing date Of Jull
I 90 1921. from one Of the publisher
of an adopted text says. 4 am nov
on mv way East TO see the booi
through its final stages, the type ha
been moved 10 Richmond. Va to ge
# ont of the New England printer
strike zone. Had to ship two hundred
fifty pages Of type besides othet
things Another letter from tn
rubiiste- on August 10. SAYS. u an
camping IN the plant steadily u7t