Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-11-14

driven on shore at ivtham. has gone to pieces;
ah,ut es0 bales of Cotton had been landed; the
rest of the cargo was strewed along the coast
---s----.----->----,...-.->-
The remarks that we lately made on the evils
resulting from the multiplicity of school books'
have attracted some attention, and been general
" approved of. We observe in the National ia
zette communication on the subject, which we
subjnin:
To The Editor of The National Gazette:
sn-I have Just been forcibly struck with the
truth Of a paragraph in your Gazette Of this eve
ninu. viz: :. The Alexandra Gazette says-'"e
question whether the multiplicity of school books
has no, become serious evil We do not doubt
it at all. but are at loss for remedy. There Is
no subject more tainpered with than education
generally. In this respect. the MARCH OF IN
TEILEcT is bat little improved" Nothing could
b. more opporune than the remark OF the Alex
andria Gazette. and am happy to find you CO.
NEEDING with the writer OF that observation, -
Having had numerous family to bring UP, |
have often reflected with astonlshment on the
tameness with which parents and guardians sub
United TO this - serious evil''-a useless multi
n,city of school books This evil can, however,
be rcmcdicd. and :: the same time one cause OF
it removed, that is, the absurd practice OF teach
uo in the schools. particularly those Tor females,
branches of science wholly unconnecteG with
nolite female education. as chemistry, botany,
natural philosophy. &c. IF half the time devot-
ed to these branches of science, (Which cannot
con, Give are at all consistent with proper course
of instruction. were devoted to the study OF the
English language in all the senses OF that phrase
our young LADIES' would leave school with fund
of useful knowledge, instead of smatterlns OF
chemistry, botany, sc. which they procure at
the heavy AID useless expense of - multiplied
ty Of hooks and. what IS more objectionable,
loss Of time. | could furnish you with long
list of expensive books was obliged to purchase
for one school. only one Of which could be used
at the school to which the pupils for whom they
were procured. are now removed. A few days
ago friend showed me a large, closely printed.
thick octave. called Universal Biography. the
cost of which was heavy. furnished to his daugh'
ter by her MASTER in one of the most respectable
of our female Summaries. Why such book
should necessarily be placed in the hands OF
young lady scarce in her teens. when her tn"
should have been so much more prohtably devot-
ed to other branches of knowledge, | am at loss
to conjecture. unless to enrich the master
or the bookseller Twelve and fifteen dol
lars will barely purchase the books required
by some masters and mistresses in our semlna-
ries of bigh pretensons. and this sum often only
sufIices for books for one or two quarters, when
new supply must be got OF other books tor the
higher classes! Complaints on tins subject are
very common, and know several parents who
have removed their children from schools Tor no
other reason than this exorblant demand for
books. The judicous heating OF our school
rooms in the winter season, is subject OF great
A ,rk' anln faI N
all these points our citizens mia Int have regu
lating voice. if they would be at the trouble of
deleeating to competent individuals of leisure
and wlinsn ness for the task, the collecting mate
rails on these points by inGafing of all the re-
spectacle teachers, and making public report
exhibiting the abuses. the useless expenses. the
waste of time and health. which the present en-
plrica. course Of instruction begets. The most
cariur and ruinouS defect in our modern schools.
is the iufractian of the good old established
school hours OF g to - in summer, to II IN
winter. A. NJ. and TO ), p. NJ. each season.
Confinement 10 these hours is consistent with
healtl,--and mention the opinion that the pre-
sent plan IF keeping schools in from 9. A. NJ.
till 9 o'clock, 2. M, with Is minutes respite,
called ..inlervai," in which children are either
confined TO the school room Of allowed to run out
unity clad. into the yard for paslme--the plan,
| saw is decidedly injurious to the health, esPe-
claily of females, and lays the foundation, a. |
know. of disease. and disorder of the constitution.
| submit to YOU whether pubic call on the COM
petent citizens of this place. to have such con-
mittee appointed as have suggested, would not
be likely to remedy the evil complained OF in
tbe Alexandria Gazette, and the other evils hint /
ed at in the above remarks by
A SUBSCRIBER.
Nov, 18th, 1881.