Uniform Text Books

Uniform Text Books

Recommended for the Districts Schools.

Mr. Lister's Letter

Containing the Report of the Committee on the Subject and Books Recommended.

To the School Officers:

Dear Sirs: - A meeting of school officers of Washtenaw county was held at Ann Arbor, August 23rd for the purpose of discussing questions pertaining to the welfare of our rural schools, and for adopting such measures as might be deemed necessary to further the best interests of the schools. Among the questions discussed was the question of text books, and the concensus of opinion was that the best results cannot be expected while schools cling to text books whose methods have long since been obsolete. Good books on modern methods cost no more than old ones, and in view of the fact that there is no uniformity in the texts now used in the county, a committee consisting of J.M. Braun, A.D. Crittenden and R.C. Allen was appointed to investigate the subject of text books and recommend a list of books to be used by the schools of this county.

Notices of this action were sent to the leading publishing houses asking them to send samples of any books which they wished to submit for examination. A full and careful examination was made of the books submitted, and the merits of each book were carefully weighed. As a result of this comparison, the committee gave the following report, which has my heartiest approval:

To the School Officers of Washtenaw County:

Sirs: - Your committee appointed by the County School Officers' association to report a set of text-books suitable for use in our district school do recommend the following:

Readers, Baldwin.

Arithmetic, Walsh's Primary and Walsh's Grammar School.

Copy Books, The Natural System of Vertical Writing.

Language, Hyde.

Geography, Redway and Hinman's "Natural Elementary" and "Natural Advanced."

Physiology, Overton.

Speller, Patterson's American Word Book.

Orthography, Pattengill.

U.S. History, Montgomery.

Civil Government, Peterman.

Mental Arithmetic, Milnes.

Very respectfully submitted,

A.D. Crittenden,

John M. Braun,

R.C. Allen.

The publishers all offer the same terms for exchange which are as follows:

If the pupil has no old book to turn in, the new book will cost the list price as given below. If the pupil has an old book to exchange toward the new one, he will be given the new book at 40 percent off the price-list. Make exchange through your local book dealers.

[Table]

It is to be hoped that every district board in the county will meet and take action on the committee's report at the earliest possible date, and I cannot urge too strongly that the list as recommended by your committee be accepted. I would not advise a complete and immediate change in all books, but an immediate adoption of the list. Then, as rapidly as new classes are formed in the different subjects, take up the work with the new books.

Pupils are frequently moving from district to district and as the same books are not now used in any two schools, these frequent changes necessitate the buying of new books at every move. If the same books are used in every district a pupil may pass from any district in the county to any other district in the county without changing books. It will make uniform work and uniform grading possible, and will do much toward putting our schools where they justly belong - in the front rank of the schools of Michigan. 

You may be visited by agents of one book concern or another who will endeavor to defeat this move toward uniformity and modern books by securing the adoption of some of their books not included in the above list. These concerns all had an opportunity to be heard before the committee, and whether they took advantage of the opportunity or not, their books were examined on their merits and you are respectfully urged to follow the recommendation of the committee rather than the suggestion of an interested agent. These men are working for their own interests, not for yours. Have nothing to do with any agent of any company. 

Urging your early and favorable action on the committee's recommendation, I remain,

Yours for good schools,

W.N. Lister, Commissioner.

If you are not now a member of the school board please hand to your successor, as the matter is urgent.

Mack's Milinery Opening.

Next week Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28, 29, 30. The third fall opening of this department gives promise of out-doing very greatly, all our former similar events. Since the splendid success this department has proven, encouraged us to much larger purchase and greater expenditure than we felt warranted making heretofore. Securing the best talent as a trimmer in the person of Miss Idella Mitchell, of New York, our patrons are assured of the most artistic and latest fashionable headwear from her hands. Miss Hintz, who is in this department is also just back from New York, after five weeks spent with the largest millinery houses, bringing with her all the latest fads in milinery. All are invited. Mack & Co.

Church Wedding in Dexter

Dexter, Sept. 22. - (Special to Daily Argus.) - The marriage of John Brogan, of White Oak, to Miss Elizabeth Geraghty, of Webster, occurred in St. Joseph's church at 10 o'clock yesterday, Rev. Fr. Ryan officiating, assisted by Rev. Fr. Goldrick and Rev. Fr. Cummeford. The bridesmaids were Miss Marie Blacker, of Eaton Rapids and Miss Mamie Sigler, of Pickney. The groomsmen were Dr. Winters of Danville, and T.E. McCarthy, of White Oak. The ushers were Mr. John Hoey, of Webster, and Dr. John Conely, of Toledo. A fine reception followed at the residence of the brides parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Geraghty, of Webster. About 60 guests were present among them being Mr. and Mrs. Chris Brogan, Mr. and Mrs. James Brogan and family, Dr. and Mrs. Brogan, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan and family, of Brighton, Mr. Will Ledwige and family of Pinckney; Mr. and Mrs. Farley of Pinckny; Mr. and Mrs. Dan McLaughlin, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Eiseman, Miss Lizzie Geraghty, Miss Mamie and Eugene McKernan, of Chelsea; Dell Fohey, of Whitmore Lake; Mr. and Mrs. George Connors, Miss Amelia Zahn, Mr. and Mrs. David Kelly, of Dexter; Mrs. Hannah Geraghty, of Portage Lake; Misses Nellie and Lou Conely, of Webster. Many costly presents in china, cut glass and silverware were made the happy couple. Mr. and Mrs. Brogan left on the 4 o'clock train for a trip through the east.

One of nature's remedies; cannot harm the weakest constitution; never fails to cure summer complaints of young or old. Dr. Fowler's Extract of Wild Strawberry.

Carried Twelve Hundred

Emmet Schafer, has accepted a position with the D.Y. & A.A.

Fred Gallup, manager of the Ypsilanti Opera House was here on Monday.

Rev. J.B. Wallace, was in Ypsilanti yesterday attending a meeting of the Presbytery.

Misses Sauer and LaRue, have returned to Milan and resumed their work in the schools. 

The Y. & S. branch of the D.Y. & A.A carried over twelve hundred passengers last week. 

Geo. J. Nissly paid out to hired help last Saturday night, over $300. A few more such are needed in town.

Saline, Mich., Sept. 21 - (Special to Daily Argus.) - City Attorney Fred Green, of Ypsilanti, was in town Tuesday.

The German Sunday School run an excursion into Detroit today. They had about a hundred and fifty in the party and filled two large cars.

When doctors fail, try Burdock Blood Bitters Cures dyspepsia, constipation; invigorates the whole system.

A Severe Setback.

"No, it will be several Sundays before I care to hear Rev. Mr. Dakter preach." "Why so?" "He has just returned from a fishing trip and it will take him that long to get back his veracity."

It's folly to suffer from that horrible plague of the night, itching piles. Doan's Ointment cures, quickly and permanently: At any drug store, 50c.