Evening star., 1935-04-21

slight. 1t costs only s1.58 per pupil
to furnish free books, according to
a study made by the once Of Edu-
cation. This Is only IA per cent OF
the total cost per pupil Of operating
the public school system.
There have been many arguments
In State Legislatures and school boards
over the free text book subject, and the
commissioner OF education has COM
piled lists of the arguments on both
sides. Perhaps the most fundamental
argument is that compulsory school
attendance Is universal and that to
compel a child to attend school and
then require his parents TO pay out
money for books, an absolute essential.
amounts almost to the imposition OF Q
fine. That is to say, where truancy
ordinances allow no option In the
matter of attendance there Is no
escape from the expense entailed.
1t is urged that it Is unfair to place
possibly sensitive parents In the posi-
digence in order to escape the cost Of
school books for their children. More
over. in cases where 1t Is an absolute
necessity for parents to take advan-
tage of free books. the children are
placed under the unfortunate handicap
of being regarded by their school,
mates as objects OF charity.
Few Arguments Against the Practice.
Opponents Of the system declare
that there Is sanitary danger in
use of public books which are passed
from pupil to pupil until they are
worn out. But, in answer to this.
school authorities have provided sys-
TENS of fumigating and disinfecttng
books and materials II Is urged that
the pupil will be careless with book
given him. but 1t is replied that It
should and can be a part of the edu-
cation to teach the pupil to care for
his books. Again, 1t is said that free
text books tend to discourage the ac-
cumulation Of private libraries. On
the other hand 1t is answered that
taste for books is more likely to
be acquired II an introduction to them
can be freely arranged. The un-
bookish pupil would never acquire
books anyway.
In favor Of the free distribution is
the argument that. under this system.
the school year starts with all classes
fully equipped with the tools Of the
curriculum. Where private purchase
of books obtains many parents are
dilatory in providing them. with the
result that children are thrown back
Of their classes.
In two States, California and
Kansas. the actual printing of school
text books has become State monop-
oily, and. presumably. there is saw
ing involved there. Georgia, Okla
homa and Tennessee have laws under
which school authorities may enter
into contracts with private parties to
print text books for the schools.
The matter Of selection Of text books
is of the first importance. The varl-
GUS States have handled this In d.
verse ways. Twelve of the States
have special text book commissions,
while in the others the matter Is left
to the Board of Education Of the local
/ jurisdiction or State Board of Edu-
/ cation. Some of these bodies are ap-
pointed by State Governors and some
are elected They have the ruling
voice on what books shall be studied.
! They can establish an index expurga-
torius if they choose. but so long as
they supply Biographies Of the old
/ fashioned large size they can depend
upon 1t that their jurisdiction will
not reach behind that screen.