CONDITIONS. THE TEXT-BOOK QUESTION. · ATTENDANCE. TOWNSHIP SYSTEM. ENUMERATION OF SCHOOL POPULATION. SCHOOL-HOUSES AND SANITATION. TEXT-BOOKS. If we had in each school a well-trained, thoroughly equipped teacher, whose knowledge was sufficient to enable him to supply deficiencies, or to detect and remedy defects, then we could dismiss this subject of text-books with but few remarks. The fact, however, that so many of our teachers, through their youth and inexperience, are to a great extent dependent, both for matter and methods, upon the text-books in use, renders this question one of very grave importance. Whether it be creditable or discreditable, it is nevertheless true, that the character of the text-book determines very largely the character of the school. This state of things will remain so until we afford teachers better means of preparing for their work, and offer greater inducements for them to choose teaching as a permanent calling. This brings us directly to the consideration of the character of a desirable text-book, and to the best and most economical way of providing it for the use of the pupil. In selecting a text-book, reference should be had, in the first place, to its mechanical construction. It may be perfect in all other respects, but, if it is defective in this, it is a dear book at any price. School-book publishers have taken great pains to find the strongest and most durable binding possible for books to put into the hands of children, and they have succeeded to a remarkable degree. Any effort to cheapen a book by using an inferior style of binding is not in the line of true economy. The life of a school-book, under the ordinary wear and tear of daily use, is from three to four years. The more this average can be increased by the care taken in putting the book together, the cheaper, relatively, the book becomes. The binding that will answer for the ordinary book which is read in the family, or used by the student in his library, will not by any means answer for a school-book. Just as soon as the cover falls off, or the leaves become loose, the book begins to go to pieces and |