Pocahontas star herald., 1925-02-19
BILL
PASSES THE HOUSE

Little Rock, Feb. 1.-THE most i'm
portant progress made in the legisla-
ture during the past week was the
passage by the House, with only five
opposing votes, of the Higginbotham
bill providing that the state shall fur
nish free text books TO all pupils in
the public schools from the first to the
eighth grades inclusive. 1t is pre-
dicted that the bill will pass the Sen
ate and Governor Terral is known to
be infavor of ii. The passage of this
bill is a distinct triumph for Repre-
sentative Curtis Higginbotham of Ran
dolph county, the youngest member of
the lower house. He made one of the
best speeches heard this session in its
support. Free text book bills have
been before several sessions of the
legislature and have been increasing
in popularity until now it appears
victory is assured.
Mr.. Higginbotham declared that
there is no bill before this session of
greater Importance to the children than
this one. IF free text books" he
said, will enable some one ambitious
boy or girl to gain the goal of an edu-
cation which would otherwise be deni-
ed, the object of this bill will have
been partially realized and the cost Of
its operation repaid a hundredfold."
"The eyes of the world are on Ar
kansas, especially are they watching
this present term of the legislature
We are about to take an important
step. The world wants to know, and
our poor parents and their worthy
children are entitled TO know, If we
are going to step forward or backward
No people can ever be greater or high
er than their education and it is the
purpose Of our schools to educate our
boys and girls"
Mr.. Higginbotham cited the exper-
fences of other states that have similar
laws. He showed that Texas, start
ing in 1919 with more than a million
enrolment and an initial cost of SO. 3.46
per child, is now furnishing 1,25O,OOO
pupils with books at an average per
capita of 80 cents. Missouri furnishes
books, pencils and tablets at less than
$1.00 per child. Maine furnishes both
the grades and high schools at 96 cents
per pupil and in New York the average
cost for the grades is 65cents. There
are twenty states which have free text
book laws and in no single case has
there been any movement toward their
repeal. State superintendents report
that free text books enhances the eff
cheney of teaching, prolongs the school
life Of the child, and makes sthe adop-
tion of new texts easier. School books
bought by the state cost about 80 per
cent less than when bought by indi-
viduals. 1t is estimated that the total
saving for % books per year when the
act Is in full operation In Arkansas
would be 1921 ,543.24 Mr.. Higginboth-
am gave the following as some of the
advantages of the new law:
l. The removal of serious burden
of expense from parents.
2. The ending of the friction that
so often arises when parents with old
books in possession are called upon
to buy new ones.
3. The banishing of obnoxious dis
tinctiOns between those who can and
those who cannot afford to buy books
4. A more generous and varied sup,
ply Of text books at school, with uni
formity wherever desirable.
>. Greater ease in keeping this sup
ply fresh and modern.
G. Increased respect for books, as
shown in the care of them.
Z. Great saving in time of energy,
because of having books on hand, in
ample supply, when terms begin or
when new subjects are taken up.
s. A larger and more permanent at
tendance upon the public schools.
8. A closer approach to the ideal of
a free public school system.
IN concluding his appeal for the pas
sage Of the bill, Mr.. Hlgginbotham
said:
I'm conclusion, Mr.. Speaker, permit
me 70 thank you and the membership
Of this body for your patient hearing
Of my humble presentation of this
To see Il because "A law is
one Of my highest aims and ambitions
as On Arkansas legislator. To feel and
to know that have helped to place an
within the easy, eager grasp