Free Vs. Uniform Textbooks

There are at present two bilis before tlie legislature providing for uniform text-books in the schools of the state. One of these bilis is intended to apply to the public schools alone and provides for free text books as well as uniformity. The other bilí provides for uniform but not free text books and is so worded as to include all schools, private as well as public, parochial as well as secular. In fact it is much like the famous Bennett law, of Wisconsin, and the similar Illinois statute which aroused such strong antagonisms a few years ago. It is not that phase of the question, however, that the Argus proposes to discuss, but the principie of uniform textbooks in general. The needs of the schools of the state in the matter of textbooks are as varied as the material and intellectual conditions which prevail in the different cities, villages and primary school districts of the state. For instance,the school books which would be suitable for the schools of Detroit, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor might not, and probably would not, be the most suitable for Dexter, Milan and the district schools generally. The school conditions and requirernents in these different communities are so varied that they cannot be reduced to a common level, and the effort to do so would result, no doubt, in serious disadvantage to many. Schools wherein are employed the best teaching ability that can be obtained, are advantaged by the use of text-books prepared on a different plan from those used in schools in which the best teachers cannot be secured, and where the text-books have to be followed more closely. The value of certain textbooks depends largely upon the skill of the teacher and the illustrative material he has to work with. When this material is lacking, even the most skillful teacher cannot obtain the most satisfactory results, and when the work is commitled to the hands of the amateur teacher, the work must be still'more unsatisfactory. Besides, there is no one series of text-books that possesses all the excellencies; and whereas in some schools one set of books may meet reasonably well all demands, other schools under entirely different conditions may require a large amount of supplementary work necessitating the use of other and various books. In support of these assertions it may be said that where the principie of state uniformity has been tried, these very difficulties have been experienced to the serious disadvantage of the schools. That the present system in our state is expensive and disadvantageous in many ways is no doubc true, but in seeking to remedy its evils we should not adopt others that are as bad or worse. There is a kind of individuality about communities and schools as there is about individuals, which should be preserved, and this can best be done by permitting the various schools to use those books which are best suited to their particular needs. This is possible without the expensiveness of the present spstera and without the variety of books on the same subject that are sometimes found in our district schools. By adopting within certain limits or grades, the principie of free textbooks, most of the difficulties of the present system would be avoided, a great saving would be effected, each school would have a uniform list and families moving from one district to another woukl experieoce none of the hardships and expense resulting from a complete change of books, as the books needed would belong to the school and would be furnished without cost to the pupils. Such a scheme would secure all the advantages of the uniform textbook plati and avoid all of its evils. The president of France, M. Casimir-Perier, resigned bis office on the isth inst. The cause impelling him to this action is said to be the attacks which have been made upon him in the chamber of deputies and the failure o( those who elected him to undertake his defense. The cabinet had also resigned, but on account of the resignation of the president was induced to remain in office temporarily. When the office of president becomes vacant there, the council of ministers wields the executive power until another president is elected. The president is elected by an absolute majority vote of the senate and chamber of deputies, met in national assembly. Casimir-Perier was elected on the assassination of President Carnot, and by an immense majority. He is one of the ablest men in France, and has always been very popular, and is thought to be so still. He may be re-elected. John M. Thurston, who is the caucus nominee of the republicans for United States senator from Nebraska, is the general attorney for the Union Pacific railroad. As senator he will be called upon to vote on the question of foreclosing the government mortgages on the Pacific railroads or extending the indebtedness. There is no question in whose interest his vote will be cast. The folly of electing such a man to the senate to guard the p'eople's interests as against the greed of corporations can be seen with "halfaneye." So long as the people persist in sending such men to represent them, they should not complain at being run over by the corporation juggernaut. On Tuesday, the i5th inst., various staces declared their choice for United States senators as follows: Michigan, James McMillan and J. C. Burrows; Nebraska, John M. Thurston; Montana, Thomas Carter and Lee Mantle; Colorado, Edward O. Wolcott; North Carolina, J. C. Pritchard and Marión Butler; Massachusetts, Geo. F. Hoar; New Hampshire, Wm. E. Chandler. A vote was taken for senator at Boise, Idaho, but resulted in no choice. Of the senators decided upon, J. C. Burrows, John M. Thurston, Lee Mantle, Thos. Carter, J. C Pritchard and Marión Butler are new men. The others are members of the present senate. The appropriation for the collection of the income tax has finally passed the senate and will become a law. There is but one more leg for those who oppose the collection of this tax to stand on and that will probably be knocked from under them next Wednesday when the constitutionality of the tax will be passed upon by one of the courts. Those who have the requisite income to come under the act would better prepare to meet their obligations to Únele Samuel. The notorious Stephen be Elkins has been elected United States senator from West Virginia. He is of the right kind of material to grace a seat in that disciedited aggregation.