xt72rb6w0x20 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt72rb6w0x20/data/mets.xml Kentucky. Department of Education. Kentucky Kentucky. Department of Education. 1936-05 volumes: illustrations 23-28 cm. call numbers 17-ED83 2 and L152 .B35. bulletins English Frankford, Ky. : Dept. of Education This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Educational Bulletin (Frankfort, Ky.) Education -- Kentucky Educational Bulletin (Frankfort, Ky.), "Free Textbooks in Kentucky", vol. IV, no. 3, May 1936 text Educational Bulletin (Frankfort, Ky.), "Free Textbooks in Kentucky", vol. IV, no. 3, May 1936 1936 1936-05 2021 true xt72rb6w0x20 section xt72rb6w0x20 m f

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Q Common‘weaiti’i of Kentucky; '9‘

EDUCATEONAE BULLETIN

FREE TEXTBOOKS
IN
KENTUCKY

1231;,

Published by Order of the

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

H. W. PETERS
Superintendent of Public Instruction

ISSUED MONTHLY

Entered as second-

class matter March 21, 1933, at the post office at
Frankfort,

Kentucky, under the Act of August 24, 1912.

V0]. IV 9 May, 1936 0 No.3

FREE'TEXTBOOKS

KENTUCKY.

Trtparm’ By
J. VIRGIL CHAPMAN

Published by Order of the
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
H. W. PETERS

Superintendent of Public Instruction

FOREWORD

In the early history of American education and even in the
primitive period of our own schools, textbooks were few in number
and poor in quality. However, they have long been regarded as a
vital factor in the training of our youth. During the present cen-
tury rapid strides have been made in the enrichment of the curricu-
lum and the improvement of textbooks, as well as in a more liberal
attitude of citizens toward their purchase and use.

It is only since July, 1934, that State—bought textbooks have
been provided for the lower grades in our elementary public schools.
Our candid opinion is that no more valuable, merited or popular
contribution has been made to our educational system within our
recollection than the provision for free textbooks for Kentucky boys
and girls.

Mr. J. Virgil Chapman, of the Division of Free Textbooks, has
prepared and arranged the material for this bulletin entitled ”Free
Textbooks in Kentucky”. It contains much valuable information
pertaining to this service, and I heartily commend it to the careful
consideration of school executives, teachers and all other patriotic citi'
zone of the Commonwealth.

H. W. PETERS,
Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Frankfort, Kentucky.

Chapter
Chapter
Chapter

Chapter

Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter

Chapter
Chapter

II.
III.

IV.

VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.

XI.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Introduction—«A Bit of History ................................................ 5
Free Textbook Laws—Kentucky ............................................ 7

A Synopsis of the Law and the Regulations of the State
Board of Education ..................................................................

Additional Suggestions to Superintendents and

Principals .............................. 12
Good Citizenship Code ................................................................ 14
Administration 15
Summary of Advantages ............................................................ 16
A Symposium—From Other States ........................................ 17
Statements of Kentucky Superintendents—

County ________ 20

Independent ................................................................................ 22
Conclusion ______________ 26
Statistics—

Table I.—Amounts Necessary for Entire Sets of Books

—by Grades ............................................................................ 28

Table II.—~Number and Cost of Books Distributed in

1935-36 by Grades in Counties .......................................... 29
Table III.—The Same—in Independent Districts ............ 33
Table IV.—The Number of Books Distributed and Total

Cost—Dy Counties ................................................................ 38

Table V.—The Same—by Independent Districts ............ 42
Free Textbook Forms ........ 43
List of Basal Books for Grades L6, with Publishers and

Prices ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 49

List of Publishing Companies Having Contracts ................ 53

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Chapter I
INTRODUCTION

(A BiT OF HlSTORY)

The ﬁrst textbook law in Kentucky was enacted by the 1844—45
session of the Legislature. It provided that parents and guardians
should select the textbooks for their children, “provided that no book
of an ir idel or immoral nature was selected.” After the adoption
of another Constitution in 1850, the Legislature of 1851—52 proposed
and passed—over the vigorous protest of the brilliant State Super-
intendent—a measure providing that, “The State Board of Educa—
tion (ex aFficio) shall . . . recommend the course of instruction . . .
and the class books to be used.” This innovation was considered a
“rejection of the great Kentucky idea of parental control with
regard to the books to be used by our children.” '

A few years later educational leaders—becoming more
thoroughly convinced of the State’s duty to educate her children—
hegan to advocate more advanced methods looking toward uniform-
1ty of textbooks. By an Act, approved in 1869', the Legislature in
settlng forth the powers of the Board of Education, authorized that
body to adopt regulations for the government of the schools and to
recommend a course of instruction including the class books to be
used. This course embraced “a plain English education, including
grammar, arithmetic, geography and history.” In the seventies, we
ﬁnd that the county board of examiners was empowered “to select

a uniform series of textbooks for a county—«not to be changed for
two years.”

A study of the record shows that about the same time a State
Superlntendent recommended uniformity of textbooks throughout
the State, “to guard against empirical and dangerous innovations,
and to exempt the public from useless and dangerous expenses. con-
sequent upon frequent changes of school books.” Later, about the
time of the adoption of our present Constitution, in the early nine-
tlesa 31} amendment to the school law provided that county boards of
education Should make adoptions of textbooks for ﬁve-year periods.

The ﬁrst Superintendent of Public Instruction, in the present
century, .wrote the following: “The ﬁrst suggestion this Depart-
Iglent des1res to_make to the General Assembly is that a law should
e emeted prov1ding for a uniform system of textbooks for the State,
Wlth maXimum prices therefor.” He referred to the fact that such
a measure had been defeated in “each of the last three sessions.”
{he 0pp0nents of the measure contended that it interferred with the
countY’s right of local self-government.”

It remained for his successor, who was elected in November,
1903, to enjoy the honor of this partial victory. By an Act of the
General Assembly of 1904, which became a law without the Gover-
nor’s approval, State Uniformity of Textbooks was established in
Kentucky. However, this was a complicated and unwieldly law, in-
cluding “County School Book Commissions” composed of the County
Superintendent, the County Judge and the County Attorney. The
law required the State Commission to adopt any book which was
“favored by a majority of the county commission.” This preserved
the principle of “county sovereignty,” but proved unsatisfactory.
Most of our readers are more or less familiar with subsequent changes
that resulted in the present statute governing this important matter.

The present law (Section 44213.36 to 4‘7, Ky. Statutes) provides
for a State Textbook Commission of nine members, eight of whom
are to be appointed by the State Board of Education. The Super-
intendent of Public Instruction is an ex ol'ficio member and Secretary
of the Commission. _

Thus it will be seen that our present textbook laws are really a
product of evolution. Contrary to the belief of many people
throughout the State, they were not changed by thelenactment of
the “School Code” in the regular session of 1934.

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Chapter II
FREE TEXTBOOK LAWS

The movement for free textbooks for children of the public
schools originated in some city school system more than a hundred
years ago. About ﬁfty years ago the State of Massachusetts, and a
few years later the State of Maine, enacted state-wide free textbook
laws. (On pages 17, 18 and 19 are given statements from about a
score of State Departments of Education.)

The history of free textbook service in Kentucky and of efforts
in that direction covers a much shorter period of time than the activ-
ities toward uniformity. Occasionally, during the last quarter of a
century, small groups of people may have discussed the advisability
of such a movement. Ardent advocates of free textbooks were in the
minority. It seems that Kentucky, as in the matters of county high
schools, consolidation, normal schools and teachers colleges, was des-
tmed to trail in the introduction of free textbooks.

First in Kentucky—1928

In 1928, the General Assembly enacted a law providing for the
purchase of textbooks used in the free public schools of the State and

thﬁ dlisstribution of same without cost to the pupils attending such
so 00 .

The law further provided that, “The purchase and distribution
of free textbooks by the State shall be under the management of the

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, subject to the approval
of the State Board of Education.” (Sec. 4421(3-3, Ky. Statutes.)

This measure also empowered the Superintendent, subject to the
approval of the Board, to make “speciﬁc rules as to the requisition,
« care and use of textbooks”, and provided that purchase of such books
should begin with the ﬁrst grade and advance upward in the grades
as funds would justify. A decision of the Court of Appeals was
awaited to determine the constitutionality of the Act. However,
as no funds were available, and no speciﬁc appropriation was made,
It Was held that the Board of Education could not purchase and pay

for free textbooks. Thus the Act was ineffective for the subsequent
81x years.

Act of 1934
The s
entitled,
000.00 fo
State Bo

“Peeial session. of 1934 enacted a supplementary measure

An Act prov1ding for the annual appropriation of $500,-
r the purchase and distribution of textbooks and giving the
ard of Education authority to administer textbook laws and

h—nvrmwammasww;uummus.«x ~ »

to adopt such rules and regulations as may be found necessary to
carry the textbook laws into effect; and declaring an emergency to
exist.”

In this Act, we ﬁnd the following words: “In the purchase and
distribution of textbooks the State Board of Education shall begin
with the ﬁrst grade and shall furnish textbooks to the ﬁrst grade
before any are bought for the second grade. After books have been
furnished to the ﬁrst grade, if additional funds are available the
State Board shall furnish books to the second grade, and so on, until
the fund is exhausted; provided if, in the judgment of the State
Board of Education sufﬁcient funds are not available to furnish all
the textbooks to any grade, then that Board shall have authority to
determine for what subject or subjects in that particular grade text-
books shall be provided. There is hereby appropriated annually, out
of the General Fund, the sum of ﬁve hundred thousand dollars for the
purchase and distribution of textbooks as provided in this Act, and any
unused balance left from one year shall be carried to the following
year and shall be used for the purposes provided in this Act. This
sum is irrevocably set aside for purchase and distribution of text-
books as provided in this Act. The State Board of Education is
hereby given full authority to administer the purchase and distribu-
tion of textbooks in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and shall
expend from the funds appropriated by this Act a sufﬁcient amount
to bear the expense of Acts providing for the purchase and distribu-
tion of textbooks in this Commonwealth, provided that no amount
shall be expended out of this fund except on proper approval of the
State Board of Education, and by requisition of the Superintendent
of Public Instruction drawn upon the Auditor of Public Accounts."

This Act does not repeal the preceding one, with the possible ex-
ception of a few minor conﬂicting provisions, but merely supple-
ments it, making the law explicit and workable.

re(

Chapter III

A SYNOPSIS OF THE LAW AND THE REGULATIONS OF THE
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

(Based upon Chapter 48, Acts of 1928, Sections 4421c-1 to 4421013.)

1. REQUISITIONS BY SUPERINTENDENTS. The Superintendent
of Public Instruction shall furnish annual report and requisition
forms on which County Superintendents and Independent District
Superintendents shall requisition the books needed for the next en-
suing school term in the districts of their respective jurisdiction.
Such requisition shall be ﬁled with the Superintendent of Public In-
struction at least one hundred and twenty (120) days before the be-
ginning of school in the various districts. The annual report on free
textbooks for the closing year and requisition for the succeeding year
(Form FT-8) shall be made out in duplicate. A slightly different
blank (Form FT-8a) is provided for districts having independent
adoptions. The original shall be sent to the Superintendent of Pub-
11c Instruction (Division of Free Textbooks) and the duplicate kept
on ﬁle as a permanent record by the superintendent making report
and requisition. If it becomes necessary to order additional books
not requisitioned in original order, such additional or emergency
requisitions shall be made on Forms provided for that purpose.

_ 2._ PURCHASE ORDERS. The Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tlon Wlll, upon receipt and approval of a requisition for books from
any superintendent, issue a purchase order (Form FT-9 or 10) to
suchpubhshing companies as are under contract to sell the textbooks
requISItioned, provided an acceptable custodian bond has been received
(as Indicated in Section 4). A copy of the order shall be sent to the
publlsher, a copy kept on tile by the Superintendent of Public In-
structionpand another shall be sent to the superintendent making
such requlsition and retained for his ﬁles.

3. SHIPMENTS, INVOICES, AND PAYMENTS. Upon receipt of the

' PUIChase order from the State ofﬁce the textbooks shall be shipped
by the PUthlleI‘, by prepaid freight, express, or parcel post, to the
IIStrlet superintendent, as directed by the Superintendent of Public
1glstruction. The publisher shall issue invoices in triplicate; Invoice
9. 1 shall be sent direct to the Division of Free Textbooks, and In-
Yoltes Nos. 2 and 3 shall be sent to the district superintendent receiv-
111% the textbooks, Upon receipt of the textbooks, the district super-
il’l endent shall promptly check the shipment against the invoice and,
reformat, O. K. .Inv01ce No. 2 to the Division of Free Textbooks as a
b tlilpt of the shipment. If not correct, he should immediately notify
0 the book company and the State Department of Education,

Division of Free Textbooks, that error may be corrected. Failure of
a superintendent (or custodian) to sign and forward invoices shall
constitute just cause for the State Superintendent to withhold regular
installments of state funds until such delinquency is removed.

4. CUSTODIANS AND BOND. The superintendents making requi-
sition for the textbooks are “custodians” Of the books in their respec-
tive jurisdictions. Each custodian of free textbooks shall execute a
bond to the Commonwealth for the faithful performance of his or
her duties in such capacity. The penal sum of the bond shall be equal
to or above the value of the free textbooks under the charge of the
custodian. The bond shall be executed in triplicate on a form (Form
FT-3) prepared by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction
and shall be guaranteed by a surety company authorized to do busi-
ness in the Commonwealth or shall be signed by three personal sure-
ties Whose unencumbered assets shall be equal at least to the penal
sum of the bond. Bonds must be ﬁled before books are provided.
In case a corporate bond is executed, the premium of such bond shall
be paid by the local board of education. The bond shall be approved
ﬁrst by the local board. The three copies shall then be sent to the
State Board of Education for its approval. After approval, one
copy shall remain in the permanent ﬁles of the State Board of Edu-
cation, and two copies shall be returned to the local board.

At the expiration of one year after approval of bond by the local
board of education, a new bond should be executed, a continuation
certiﬁcate forwarded to this ofﬁce, or a receipt for payment of annual
premium, to be attached to our copy of custodian bond.

5. BOOKS LABELED. All textbooks shall be permanently 1a-
beled as the property of the State of Kentucky with the approved
labels, Forms FT-élW and FT-4C, to be used by white and colored
pupils respectively.

6. DELIVERY OF BOOKS T0 PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS. The dis-
trict superintendents, acting under the direction of their respective
boards of education, shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the prin-
cipal or teacher in charge of any public school at the building where
said principal or teacher has charge, the necessary number of books
required for each grade for the use of said school and shall take his
receipt therefor on Form FT-5.

7. ISSUANCE OF BOOKS TO PUPILS. Books shall be issued by

principals or teachers in charge of the public schools of the State to-

regularly enrolled pupils of said schools. The principal or teacher
will ﬁll out requisition cards in duplicate for each pupil, using Form
FT-b‘. The original of these cards must be signed by the parents or
guardians who have supervision or custody of the pupils enrolling-
When the requisitions are properly signed and returned to the prin'
cipal or teacher, the books will be delivered as requested to the pup}]5
entitled to them. The principal or teacher will keep both the orlg'
inal and the duplicate requisition cards. The original requisition
cards shall be receipted and returned to the pupils when the books
are returned to the principal or teacher at the close of the school
term.
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8. BOOKS MAY BE PURCHASED. Custodians of free textbooks,
under the provisions of this Act, may sell textbooks to any pupil,
parent or guardian of pupils attending the public schools of Ken-
tucky and making request to purchase books. Such books shall be
sold at the ofﬁcial retail contract price; provided that custodians shall
not sell textbooks to private or sectarian schools or tor the use of
pupils attending a private or sectarian schtml. Funds accruing from
the sale of books shall be covered into the General Fund of the State
Treasury. .

Any custodian selling textbooks as herein provided shall issue a
receipt in triptieale on Form FT—‘T, showing number and kind of
books sold, the amount of money received, from whom received, the
pupil for whom the books are purchased, and the school district in
which the pupil is enrolled. The original copy shall be sent to the
Superintendent of Public Instruction (Division Free Textbooks), the
duplicate kept on file by the custodian, and the triplicate delivered
to the purchaser of the books.

All custodians are advised to sell as few books as possible. Re—
mittances to this ofﬁce should be made by check or money order.

9. DAMAGED Boom. All books checked as “unusable” and in

bad condition shall be carefully kept by the custodian until provi-
SIOHS are made by the State Board of Education for their removal,
exchange or repair.

10. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. Advice of the County Health Ofﬁ-
cer concerning the disposition of books used by children with conta-
gious diseases should be followed. Speciﬁc report of same shall be
made to the State Department of Education if books are destroyed.

11 ‘

Chapter IV

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS T0 SUPERINTENDENTS AND
PRINCIPALS

1. It should be borne in mind that all free textbooks are the prop-
erty of the Commonwealth, to which we are responsible for their
care. Superintendents, teachers, pupils and parents are ex— ;
pected to exercise great diligence in caring for textbooks en- ‘
trusted to them.

2. Books and records should be kept systematically and ready for
i11Spection by an authorized agent of the State Department of
Education at any time.

3. Whenever the number or kind of books received does not coincide
with the purchase order (copy of which is sent to the superin-
tendent by the State Department), the superintendent should
immediately report this to both the publisher and the State De-
partment of Education. Do not wait until after the beginning
of the school term, or when reeeipted invoice is sent to the State
Department for payment. ,

4. Whenever the binding of books is found to be defective, the facts
should be reported to the superintendent, who Should in turn
report to the State Department of Education.

5. When a pupil moves from one county or district to another, the
books should be returned to the teacher and a receipt taken
therefor. If such books are taken into another community,th
superintendent should takethem up and return them to the
school which originally issued them.

6. From the teacher, at close of school, you should receive,_ care-
fully count and check all books and pupil cards (Form FT-G)
that have been issued to her. The teacher should be receipted
for those returned.

7. Provide a safe, suitable place for the storage of books and 81"
range them in an orderly way, so you can easily ascertain the
number and condition of books for each subject and each grade.

8. File the duplicate cards (Form FT-6) in your ofﬁce after they
have been ﬁlled in and signed by the teacher. If for any reason
the pupil cannot return books to the teacher, she should ﬁle the
original card (Form FT—6) with the duplicate, stating on the
back of card the reasOn why the books were not returned.

9. If a child loses or destroys a book, he should be required to Paly
the value of book, if possible. If a child damages a book beyond
use, he should be required to pay the value, if possible, and be
permitted to keep the book.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

. If a child damages a book, but not sufﬁciently to cause it to be

discarded, he should be ﬁned in proportion to the damage done,
the book to remain the property of the State.

The collections for lost or damaged books should be reported by
the principal or teacher immediately to the superintendent, and
all ﬁnes thus collected should be remitted to him, and the super—
intendent should make payment to the State Department of Edu-
cation, as provided by law.

The amount of ﬁnes mentioned above (paragraphs 9, 10, 11)
should be determined by the teacher, principal or superintend-
ent. The value of the average free textbook usually deterio-
rates about thirty percent a year.

If a pupil or his parent refuses to settle for books lost or de—
stroyed or for ﬁnes assessed for damage to books, the pupil
should be deprived of the beneﬁt of free books until the damage
is paid. (Reasonable wear is'to be expected and should not be
penalized.) Rules should be enforced with discretion.

Annual Report and Requisition blanks (Forms FT—8 for basal
and FT-Sa for independent adoptions) have been mailed to su-
perintendents. These reports call for the number of copies of
each text on hand at beginning of year, number received, num-
ber sold, number lost, destroyed or consumed, number actually
used in 1935-36, etc.

Great care should be exercised in making these reports and req-
ulsmons, showing the estimated additional copies needed, and
they should be mailed to the Division of Free Textbooks as 30041
as possible. Remember that affidavits are required, as indicated
on blank farms.

Chapter V
GOOD CITIZENSHIP CODE

For Pupils Using State Free Textbooks

PLEDGE

Acknowledging my gratitude to the State for providing good schools
and free textbooks for my education, and recognizing the obligations of
citizenship that this education places upon me, I pledge myself to obey the
good citizenship book code.

THE LAW OF RESPECT
I will respect and take care of the property of the State.

THE LAW OF ORDER

1 will keep my books in good order at school and at home.
I will arrange my books neatly in my desk.

THE LAW OF CLEANLINESS

I will keep my books clean outside and inside.
I will not mark them with pen or pencil.
I Will not spoil their pages with ﬁnger prints.

THE LAW OF HONESTY

I will guard my books as a trust from the State.
I will return in good condition to my teacher the books which the state

lends me.
I will replace or pay for those books that I lose or damage wilfully 0"

unreasonably.

THE LAW OF RIGHT DEALING

I will keep my books ﬁt for those to use who come after me as I eXp
those who come before me to keep their books ﬁt for me to use.

act

The Code printed above is adapted from a Texas Textbook Bulletlyl
and used here by permission of the State Department of Education of tha
State. We recommend it to our schools and earnestly urge upon teaChe’s
and pupils the patriotic duty and the extreme importance of taking the very
best care of this valuable property of the Commonwealth.

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Chapter VI
ADMINISTRATION

Although the Act of the Special Session was not approved by
the Governor until July 3, 1934, the Division of Free Textbooks
was organized, and the necessary machinery at once set in motion to
administer the new law. The ﬁrst orders for free textbooks were
mailed to publishing companies August 13, 1934. It had been
decided by the State Board of Education that books should ﬁrst be
purchased for the ﬁrst, second and third grades, the service soon
being extended so as to include a part of the fourth grade.

To be more speciﬁc, during the year ending June 30, 1935,
three thousand six hundred nine (3,609) purchase orders were placed
with twenty-seven publishing companies for 1,333,402 textbooks to
be used by more than 300,000 children. These purchases were made
at much lower rates than parents would have paid at retail prices.

_ During the year 1935—36, three thousand four hundred seventy-
slx (3,476) purchase orders were placed with twenty-nine publish-
ing companies for 1,109,026 textbooks. The total cost of these books,
including transportation charges, was $514,665.42. For county
school systemS, there were provided 730,696 books at a cost of $332,~
739.07, exclusive of transportation. For schools of independent dis-
tricts, including all city and so-called “Graded School” districts,
there were purchased 378,330 books at a net cost of $165,475.93.

As stated in the last Biennial Report, “In the operation of the
free textbook program, the chief handicap for the year 1935-36 is
inadequacy of funds to purchase books for all pupils of the ﬁrst ﬁve
grades, as directed by the State Board of Education. The fact that
In one-teacher schools, ﬁfth grade pupils this year recite with sixth--
grade classes, renders it more difﬁcult to determine accurately the
number of children entitled to this service, and at the same time in-
creases the cost of the books supplied.”

The above prophecy, written before the beginning of the present
3911001 year, was a correct forecast of some difﬁculties encountered
t e'past Year. With the continued hearty cooperation of school su—
Derintendents throughout the State, we shall endeavor to avoid
1501116 of these troubles. We appreciate the hearty commendation of
lllnfli‘eds of school people, parents and pupils. It seems that in every
Seetlpn of the State countless beneﬁts have been derived from this
servme so long needed by our citizens.
and The hearty response from all quarters insures the continuation
tionﬁktensmn of this additlonal movement toward. equalizing educa-
Assem 1Sippiirtunities for our Kentucky boys and girls. The General
ienni 1y as appropriated $500,000.00 per annum for the ensuing
and 31 Period. For this-response, and for the generous support
semblp endid benevolent spirit of our Governor and the General As-

y, We are profoundly grateful.

Chapter VII

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE ADVANTAGES OF
,FREE TEXTBOOKS

w Exp]

(1) Purchased by the State in large quantities at wholesale prices, _

textbooks cost much less than when bought by individuals at QUO
retail prices.

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(2) A personally owned book is generally used only one term, and “i:

then relegated to the attic or otherwise discarded; whereas, a ' mm

state-owned book is used three years or longer. icmpn

mild

(3) Free textbooks promote uniformity and efficiency in classroom ital:

work. 00 ‘

(4) No time is lost in waiting for children to buy books—important Ken's

at beginning of school. teach

, shou]

(5) Poor parents and pupils are not embarrassed by being cons1d- The

ered objects of charity. alum

minii

(6) This plan tends toward equalization of educational opportuni— Main

ties.

(7) It is thoroughly Democratic in spirit and American invprin- iiiﬁﬁ

ciple. » semi

' . ough

(8) Children are required to attend school, and they should be pro‘

vided with the necessary tools with which to work. New

(9) Free textbooks greatly increase school attendance and facilitate :7 336

the progress of pupils. mm

(10) They prevent much confusion, loss of time and worry in teach- Mas?

ers’ trying to get people to buy books. iExm

933

(11) The use of free textbooks under the guidance of efﬁcient teaCh'
ers increases the child’s respect for public property and Rhod
develops some of the cardinal principles of good citizenship. ‘

texth

(12) This service has proved a boon indeed to the citizen ofi’flle i138]

poorer communities and, in fact, to citizens of all commumtles 823%:
during a period of unemployment and ﬁnancial depression.

Conn

We a

Ghapter VIII
A SYMPOSIUM

Expressions as to the Value and Advantages of Free Textbooks—
By Those who Know

QUOTATIONS FROM LETTERS RECEIVED BY J. VIRGIL CHAPMAN-—
FROM STATE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION

Kentucky State Superintendent H. W. Peters

“Pupils are supplied with more books for less money. No embarrass-
ment to poor children or parents. Increased attendance. Teaching efﬁciency
improved. Teachers stimulated and encouraged. Retardation diminished.
Children inspired to do better work. Money saved to the' citizens of the

State. No wonder the people are enthusiastically in favor of Free Text.
books!”

Kentucky Ex-Superintendent James H. Richmond

“The Free Textbook service has greatly improved the eﬁ’iciency of
teaching. It is a forward step in the greater educational program. It
should be continued as a fundamental part of the public school system.
The greatest need in this program, so splendidly begun, is an increased
appropriation for free textbooks. It should include the eight grades, with a
minimum appropriation of $750,000 a year.”

Maine State Commissioner B. E. Packard

_ “For nearly ﬁfty years Maine has furnished free textbooks for all pupils
Ill-Our publlc schools. The idea has become so thoroughly embodied in the
thlnklng Of our people that free textbooks are just as necessary as the free

services of teachers, janitors, fuel, transports, etc. Our citizens are thor-
oughly committed to the idea.”

New Hampshire Commissioner of Education James N. Pringle

“New Hampshire has provided free textbooks for all pupils since 1889,

:‘7 Years.‘and it is hard for us to conceive of equalized educational oppor-
mml/ without such provision.”

Mas‘s‘avcrhusetts Supervisor of Research and Statistics William J. O’Kelle
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Expenditur g 0 send you the enclosed information