Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-03-11
For the Portage Sentinel.
A Word to SCh0Ol Directors,


our common Schools and Academies, is al.
most as important requisite for the thor
osgh education of the young, as good order.
| am as.onished at the apathy prevailing in
the community, in respect to the charac-
ter and quality Of the books used by youth.
There is no standard series considered as
the books. And hence it has become an
cid e1&om for every new TEACHER TO de-.
marfs lew set. Every successive school
must change part at least, Of the books
recommended by previous .,eacher.-
The expense 10 parents in the purchase Of
books, is by this slovenly procedure, in
creased fourfold above what it would be,
if some systematic regulations were adopt
ed in this matter. Why can not the Read.
ers, the Grammars, the Biographies and
Ari,hmetics used in our schools, be from
year to year the same in kind? Why have
not standard. .yorks on these subjects, been
long since recommended by county Exam
iners through the State; and recommended
again by the Directors of all the Districts
in the towns? What saving Of expense
would this be to the peopls2
But the advantages resulting 10 the chill
dren themselves would be much greater.
The time lost for want Of a.good classif.
cation of scholars, would then be saved by
making it possible for teachers to spend
more time in the teaching of every sub.
ject. There would be another great ad-
vantage to teachers, which would rebound
to the profit of the scholar. Familiarity
scith his Textbooks is more than halt q
teachers strength. He should have every
thing which his pupil reads, or studies, al
his tongues end, as well as his fingers
Much lime is lost by teachers, through their
not s'having the hang Of their pupils
books; and they certainly cannot instruct
as well from strange books, as from those
with which they are familiar.
Now we have in our State, a series OF
Readers prepared by one of our best schol-
ars, than which better, never was fur
nished, for conducting pupil from A, B.,
G., to an acquaintance with the master.
pieces of English composition. refer 10
McGufey's Series. 1t is admirably adapt
ed to its end; leading along so gradually
from the simplest lessons to the most diff.
cult, mat fhs young stuneHt ~ hatuiy aware
of the step he IS taking. A pupil who has
gone through with the series under a care
ful eye cannot fail Of becoming tolera.
BILE reader and good speller-accomplish-
ments which ought to be less rare than they
are. This Series is cheap-a series which
does not s'pay the costs Of transportation"
from the city Of New York to the West
that originated at home for home consunsp.
tion. Ought we not 10 patronise such a
series, rather than import readers from
abroad? They have already obtained a
circulation so wide that every Shool Di-
rector should endeavor to make them o
standard in his District, at least.
While on this subject, let me also call
attention to Rays Arithmetic-another
right-down substantial, Buckeye" book,
that will prepare young Ohioans to count
their own money, and t'keep accounts, :"
sooner than old Daboll, or Smith, or Adams,
or any Arithmetic from New York book.
store. What say you, School Directors
should not Ohio teachers use Ohio books
when they are full as cheap, and little
better, shan any thing that comes from
ahraad1 u. Il.