The Early History of California State-Printed Textbooks

Abstract

California's history has never been found wanting in distinctive characteristics. The state's method of providing free textbooks for its some two and a half million elementary school pupils has not dulled this record. On the contrary, California now holds the distinction of being the only state in America which actually prints its own textbooks, although until 1957, Kansas shared in this novel educational venture.1 In addition, several other states have either tried or considered trying the idea at one time or another in the course of their history.2 Problems relating to the adoption and printing of textbooks are numerous and surrounded by controversy. In view of the magnitude of such controversy, it is surprising that the cost of textbooks accounts for less than two percent of the total elementary education expenditure in California.3 On the surface at least, it appears to be little short of amazing that California has been able to continue its eighty-year-old textbook system, embodying single adoption and state printing, in the face of many adversities. No group of California educators has ever expressed itself in favor of this policy.4 Conversely, the overwhelming majority of such groups has asserted that the system is riddled with crucial educational deficiencies. In addition, there has been a national movement towards local control. What