The Indianapolis times., 1936-03-02
INDIANA SCHOOL
BOOKS TOO old,
SAYS GOVERNOR
Texts in Use Fail to Offer
Up-to- Date Picture,
MCNutt Asserts.

With the State Board of Educa-
ton scheduled to meet Friday to
receive bids on new textbooks to
be adopted for the state public
school system, Gov. McNutt de-
voted his weekly radio address yes
terday to the growing obsolescence
of books now in use.
Changing conditions in science,
history and social development have
made most books in use a decade
ago unsuitable for the modern
classroom, the Governor said.
Three books now in use-United
States history, physiology and home
economics-have not been changed
in Is years.
There is nothing in these books,
for instance, about safety. In the
geography now in use the textbook
states airplanes are in the expert
mental stage and that a vast net
work of interurban lines is being
built throughout the Middle West"
he said.
Books to Cost S1,OO0,OO0
The new schoolbook adoption is
to require expenditure of about
$l,000000, Gov McNutt said.
1T will take about ABS 900 SPELL
ing books, 250,000 Biographies, 310,-
600 physiologies, 10000 United
States histories, 375,000 grammar
books and 10000 home economics
books to supply the children under
the standards in our schools today"
he said"
THE state is in no way liable to
any book contractor for any sum-"
the Governor asserted, "and the law
provides that contractors shall re-
ceive their pay solely and exclusive
ly from the sale of these books.
Books are retailed at 20 per cent
above contract prices.
Holds Costs Reasonable
Surveys made reveal that costs
of textbooks are not excessive: Cd
because they are used for a five
year period, and CD because they
are passed on to other members of
the family and in many instances
are turned back and bought as used
books.
In some schools, such as Terre
Haute and Fort Wayne, the rental
system is in effect, and books re-
main the property of the school
units.
These surveys revealed that there
is no longer the former sentiment
attached to school books. Few par
ents or children today desire to keep
them. One reason is that years
ago books were not readily avail
able. Today, with our vast library
system and travelling libraries in our
rural areas, there is no novelty in
books.
Cites Free Textbook Law
The General Assembly of 1885
gave the people of Indiana a free
textbook law, whereby patrons in
any school unit, upon petition, may
obtain free textbooks. Several COM
munitieS have availed themselves
OF this. One city is Anderson, where
Tree textbooks have been placed in
the public schools. Free textbooks
are also available under the law
for parochial schools.
The 1934-1935 school year regis
tered enrolment in public schools
as 694,428. In addition, 58,454 were
enrolled in parochial schools. Due
to economies instituted in the public
school system during the last three
years, at no loss to efficiency or
standards, current expenditures
have been reduced $11.230. .308 .83
under 19311932. At the same time
the bonded debt has been reduced
$12,126, ,497.71.
1t is my opinion that the same
sense of responsibility, with an eve
to the welfare of the children.
which brought these economies and
lower cost to the taxpayers, will be
manifest in the deliberation of the
state board in the school book
a6Of0fiNfo IN ha ,N,oLo