The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-12-23
Forthe Cnledoninn.
School Books.

School Books.
I We have heard great deal Of complaint N q
and not without reason, ut the frequent chang
es OF Books in our schools. This in years past
has been universally regarded as a serious e.
vii. Merchants have purchased those, they
had .'enson to suppose would be called for, but
be fore they could dispose ofthem, they have
been Did "thut kind has gone out Of use; and
a diffe rent one is called for. The new one is
proc uTc Land like its predecessor, dies on their
hands. Nor has il been any better with those
who have had to purchase for their children
Books not yet worn out, or half mastered, are
lain by TO give place to n different kind which
somebody has seen fit to recommend. Nee dless
expense mas thus been accustomed, and what
is worse needless confusion
II is true we live in an nge ofimprovemen;,
and improvements will continue TO be made
in school books: and it would be unwse to shy
our schools should not have the benefit of
them. The good of the school will some times
require a change. But then It should always
be made in view Of the actual irantS of the
schools, made with great care and wisdom aud
prudence. The change should be recommend
ed by those best qualified to judge Of it's expe.
dency, and who are responsible 10 the public,
for their public acts
1t is obvious that these changes should be
regulated in somo,cay, and not left to the rec
concentration OF Book Pedlers, or Publishers
Agents,nor even to the Teachers who are con.
tinually changing. ......
Under our present system, men are appoin-
ted whose duty it is to watch over the inter.
ests Of our schools, and by all means in their
Pow''r seek to promote them. ltwo5ld seem
ms; proper that recomme ndations should
come from them, and that they should be re-
sponsiblc for them. Such recommendations
have been made and published mot by any one
man, but by committee appointed for the
purpose, composed of those who were thought
to be competent to the task assigned them
Now if people could avoid the evil of which
they have had good reason to com plain, it would
be well to have the list, and be guided by it in
purchasing, rather than by the advise Of Book
Agents, who are anxious to promote the inter
ests of education by selling the books they car.
ry.
Efforts have recently been made in Caledo.
MIA County to introduce the "Defnition Spell.
ing Book and TO convince the people that
that is just the Book they need at the present
time. Agents have perfect right to sell,
and the people TO buy, these books, if they
choose. We wish simply to inform those who
may not know, that this Book was not recon-
mended for use by the State Committee, nor
has it been, we think, in any single County in
81 al. :.
before the Committee who met ut Montpelier
in 1916, and that it was not thought best to A.
dept it. And there are in our opinion, serious
objections against it; though it is not our pur
pose at this time to review it.
II has been represented, though we would
not believe with any intention of deceiviDg
that the present Superintendent of this Coun.
ty has recommended it. No such recommcn.
dalton has been made public, except by those
who interested to sell Whatever the Su.
perintendent may think of The merits of the
book, we cannot believe he has intended to
give his sanction to it's introduction into our
schools in the present circumstances. Had
he intended to recommend its adoption, he
would probably have given his recommends
ton to the public through a different channel
than that of travelling agents. ..H
As we huppen to have at hand the,published
list of books officially recommended for use in
Caledonia County, we will append it for the
benefit of those who have it not.
Sanders Primer, for those beginning to read;
Websters Spelling Book; Sanders Renders,
first second third and fourth: Morse's Geog-
ra ply; Colburn's first Lessons, and Adams A, |
rithmetic, Goodrich's History of the United
States; and Wells Grammar. And in addi-
lion to these, when the condition of the School
renders il expedicnt. Ackerman's Natural
History, and Cutters Physiology.
No change from the above list has yet heen
-ecomme nded, and until other books are rec
in place of'these, and by those who
ire authorized to do so, and who are willing to
,e responsible to the public for the change, we
hink Ahe interest of those who buy, and the
interests OF the schools, would be best promo
ed by adopting those only embraced in the list
boyR. FRIEND TO TIE 5UHonLs
EPThe gold fever is likely to prove more