Inquiries and Answers 187 



informers find with text-books is that they have 

 little relation to life; or as the persons them- 

 selves are likely to put it, the books are not 

 "practical." I do not like to use this word 

 "practical," because it has been employed in 

 such a way as to arouse the antagonism of good 

 teachers. Used in its original and legitimate 

 sense it is well enough; but in order that the 

 larger idea may be expressed, I like to say that 

 text-books ought to be "applicable." The word 

 practical is likely to connote merely dollars-and- 

 cents information for the time being or for the 

 place. The word applicable is more central, 

 making the whole course of treatment, rather 

 than a few isolated facts, significant to the life 

 and interests of the pupil. The rigid text-book 

 has been imposed on the schools by the colleges. 

 With the emancipation of the schools, there 

 should come a greater dominance on their part 

 in educational policies. If the schools do not 

 exist for the colleges, then it is very evident 

 that a type of text-book that does not lead 

 college-ward may be needed for the common 

 schools; and this book will apply to the daily life. 



