512 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



said it could be furnished there at about 45 cents. Why'not use our presses 

 at Lansing, etc. There is scarcely an institute or teachers' association held 

 in this county without there being present one or more representatives from 

 different publishing firms, and these are paid from $1,200 to $1,800 salary 

 per year and all expenses paid, and we pay these Mils. 



SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF FKEE TEXT-BOOKS. 



1. Economy. The superintendent of the Lacrosse, Wisconsin, schools 

 says : " It does not cost this community one-third of the former cost of 

 books." Books will also be used until worn out. Our shelves are loaded 

 with school books little the worse for use, but now entirely out of date. 



Superintendent Henry B. Pierce of New Bruinswick, New Jersey, says : 

 " For the past eighteen years, our school readers have not cost on an average 

 more than ten cents per pupil per year." A class of girls in the grammar 

 department used Sanders High School Reader fourteen years. That is, more 

 than 600 different girls during those fourteen years used the same identical 

 text-books, which were purchased by us for less than $45, but would have 

 cost each of them at the lowest term they could have bought them ($1.25 

 each) the sum of $750. 



2. Saving of time. All pupils are furnished with suitable books on the 

 first day of school, and can therefore be ready to recite the first day. 



3. Increase of attendance in the higher grades. 



4. Poor children are in so far placed on an equal footing with the rich. 



5. It is an educational force in teaching responsibility for and care of 

 property. 



6. It gives school authority complete control of the course of study and 

 removes a common excuse for non-performance of work. 



In closing, allow me to refer to one other aspect of our school matters. 

 How many before me, school officers or patrons, are in the habit of visiting 

 the school room, or know anything of the progress your children are making, 

 or of what is going on except by rumor from some pupil? Is this as good 

 common sense as you use in other business transactions? Are you not often 

 imposed upon for want of this personal knowledge? 



Miss Flora McFlimsy crowds all sail. Pupils are rushed through the book 

 without understanding or remembering the work passed over. The term 

 closes, and with a flourish of trumpets she leaves. Miss Faithful takes her 

 place. To her dismay, she finds the work must all be done over again. She 

 is discouraged. The pupils wonder why they have to work so hard, and yet 

 do not make the progress they did with the former teacher. Soon words of 

 dissatisfaction reach her ear from parents that have never entered the school 

 room and know nothing of the work accomplished. Her term closes, and 

 your verdict is: " She don't amount to much." 



Do not let a few dollars per month shut out the long tried and successful 

 teacher. The best are cheap at any price, while the poor are very dear at 

 any price. 



