The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-06-27
PEOPLES FORUM

To the Editor of The Tribue:
board, through an advertisement APP
pearing in The Tribune, is making
an effort to discourage. the signing
of the free text books petition.
This prompts me to ask for the
necessary space to give the reason
why this petition is being circulated.
A year ago the board stated its in
tention to reduce the cost Of oper-
ating the schools, in an article APP
pearing in The Tribune at that time
We were led to believe that the
saving would be about $25,OOO.O0.
Free text books we're eliminated, jan
itOrs' salaries reduced about twenty
per cent, making them below liv-
ing wage, and also one lady teacher
dropped in high school.
The total saving, however, was
considerably less than the promised
$25 1000. 90, 1t will be noticed that
the saving was mostly made at the
expense Of the janitors and patrons
of the schools.
To offset the small saving, an ex-
ira play ground instructor was en-
gagged at $l.OO0.OO a year for part
time service, even though we al
ready had an athletic instructor at
salary of $233,34 per month.
If the board had been sincere IN
its efforts to save money, it would
not have engaged an extra play
ground assistant, and it could have
also dispensed with the service of
the truant officer, at a saving Of
$3.50 for each school day. or a to-
Ao1 IS
These savings alone would have been
books.
Another reason for disseminating
the text books was that free text
lated, and not taken care Of. The
public library caters largely to
school children and yet we do not
advocate it's discontinuance, be-
cause it's books are being mutilated
by our children.
Neither do we advocate closing it,,
even though its patrons, mostly, are
we'll able to go to book store and
buy books.
Surely tax-paying public that
does not object to the cost-Of main
tanning a public library, that lends
story books to our children free of
charge, would not object to the cost
of supplying free text books, so that
all children may receive an educa-
ton at a minimum cost.
If our board of education believes
that it should discontinue the text
books because Of the cost to the tax
payers, then it is mistaken, as up to
date about ninety-five per cent Of
these asked to sign the petition have
done so willingly, while not to ex-
coed twenty-five individuals have
refused to sign through the cost to
the taxpayers.
If the board feels that it should
discontinue the books because the
children do not take care of them,
then the writer suggests that the
board adopt some system, such as
the library has, so that all mutilated
books can be charged to the parents
of the child that mutilates the book.
As the matter now stands with the
patrons buying the books, every
home has list of high priced books
lying around, that are out of SER
vice, by reason Of the fact that there
are no children in the family to make
further use of them, and in year or
SO the books are out of date. This
fact alone costs the individual tax
payer, who is a patron Of the school,
large sum each year, whereas, if
the books were furnished by the
board they could be kept in service
number of years at no additional
expense to the taxpayer at large.
The Book Trust, of course, does
not approve of the free text books
for the reason above stated.
In closing, it might be we'll to say
that if free text books are again
furnished, it will not be necessary
for the board to threaten to with
hold diplomas until all accounts are
settled in full. as was done a few
weeks ago, both through the columns
of The Tribune and by private notice
to the delinquents by the board.
Thanking you for. the space allot
ted, I am
Very truly yours,