The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-11-14
- TEACHERS am oruEas ~.
vsusSrpD toNMoN SCHOOLS
~ RUTLAND COUNTY.

cnts hold 1T West Poultuey On the 2Jth
Il April last, the undersigned were ap
pointed q Committee tn address YOU fer
,l,e purpose II enliSsins ycur cc-el~ra'ioa
ia an effort 10 secure uniformity in Text
looks used in the Common School. of
this County.
The Inconvenience and the e,a which
We would avert, have been experienced
10 greater or less extent, hy nearly all
teachers. With no moro scholars Than
they conld desire IN order 10 render their
s,hool Interesting, in consequence Of the
variety of hooks on the same subject.
they have lcen obliged To- divide their
school into ~ many classes that they
could do justice Ia none of them. They
have hccn obliged 10 hear the lessons re-
cited in n hasty manner with little or no
time fnr these explanations and illuara-
,ions which would give 10 the exercise It's
chief in'eres, and often it, highcs, value.
Instead Of class in Geography, they
must hear half a dozen. perhaps dozen
scholars rcci,c from AS many different
bnnks.
Instead Of spending an hour with a
class in Arithmetic, as every thorough
teacher would wish TO do they would
restrict themselves to one fourth, perhaps
to one sixth of that time. So with all
the exercises of TIE school, and all the
branches which they attempt to teach.--
With only a reasonable and limited num-
her Of scholars they still find Themselves
unable To teach anything thoroughly for
the want of time.
For this state of things. teachers them.
selves are, in part, accountable. They
have had their tavoritc text books. and
have thought that they were doing good
service both to the children and TO their
parents ly introducing those booNs into
! their schools.
The next teacher equally sincere, has
introduced new set of books, and to this
source to great extent. may be traced
the evil of which We complain.
And as teachers have aided in pr"duc-
Ing the evil, so to teachers We look for
assistance in applying the remedy. And
not teachers alone, but all who have any
influence in This matter, are earnestly re-
qucs'ed to cooperate with MS.
Till within few years. no one has
been authorised hy law. even to recon-
mend school books. 1t was perfectly
proper then that teachers should cndeay-
or to introduce into their schools such
looks as they thought would best pro-.
mote the interests of the scholars 1t was
proper also. that parents school commit
tees, editors Of the periodical papers, and
book publishers and their agents, should
all use their influence to secure the adop-
ton Of their favoritc books. And even
since the law was passed, requiring GER
tain persons 10 recommend school books,
the responsibility has been 50 divided be-
tween the State. County, aud Town SUI
perntendents that it is not strange that
but little has been accomplished. Now
the responsibility rests with the Board of
Town Superintendent in each County.
Even this Board has no authority TO die
tate, but only to recommend. This is as
i, should he.
In behalf then, Of the Board Of Super
intcndents Of this County. We ask and cx-
poet the candid co-opccation of Parents,
Teachers, Booksellers. Editors, (and we
wish We might add book agen's) in our
efforts TO secure uniformity in text books
in our Common Schools
We do not arrogate to ourselves infalli-
hility in the recommendation, which We
have made. And still we think that this
recommendation is worthy of some respect
and confidence. Ii has not been made
hastily or without careful examination
Of all the books to which We have had ac,
cess.
We think moreover that the expert
cncc which some Of u. have had as teach
ers Of common schools, and most Of IL
as Superintendent. studying the want,
of the scholars, in the schools, has given
us some advantage over those, who in
some other respects may be better quail
fled than ourselves, for the responsible,
duty of recommending school books.
And if the books which we have rec
commended, are good even if they arc no,
the b'st, We still think it better that the,
should he used uniformly, than to snticl
the evils which are experienced ly tn,
present diversity.
We address ourselves, then, particular
ly 10 teachers, Mt authoritatiycly, hut
with confidence that our wishes will be
regarded, and we earnestly request then
than a. far as they feel called pom to ex
crt any influence in the introduction %
new books into their schools, they vii
DO II from the books which we have re
commended, even though teachers may
: havc Il strong preference for other book,
which they have studied at Seminary
or which may be recommended by som'
fayori'c teacher, still we trust they viii
, 50 far lay their preferences aside as u
! conform 10 the recommendation Of thi
. board.
. We think that the good Of their school
ami in many instances, their own ulti
mate success as teachers, require them t
! heed these suggestions.
Especially would we caution teacher
l and others against being influenced b.
= the handbills and Misrepresentation o