The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-04-02


reading matter contained in his commu-
nication. Whoever this individual may
be, in The representation which he has
given us Of himself, he has given Us a
most perfect personihcation of "Hercu-
les with Mount Atlas on his..back.' And
had his language met with the misfortune
to have found place among Mande-
vile's selections, it must, for The sake Of
consistency, have met with his own I'M
mitignted condemna,ion.-If, however,
he has written for children of larger
growth, whose taste is not so liable to
be vitlated, on my part he is IN this re-
spect excusabIe But | would suggest
whether it would not be the part Of wis.,
dom on the part OF Parent to with>
hold the communication from his own
children.
A little inquiry into the origin Of his
" structures" has rendered them no lon,
ger a matter of surprise, but of regret.
You are no doubt aware, that they are
only a second and somewhat revised edi-
ton of what already appeared before the
public in one of your exchanges, pur-
porting with how much truth cannot
say TO have been an editorial. "Monkey
stories" "io,o cunning" "sickiy fooie>
ricS, " are not originals with parent"
by any means, nor will he lay claim TO
them as his own. There is no doubt a
cause for the use of language so. stri-
kingy marked with excitement and bit
terness, which lies not wholly within
Mandevlle's selections. Whoever reads
his structures, with correct knowledge
of the books upon which they are made,
and the Authors design in making the
selections which he has made, will say
to Parent" "if you do not fancy these
books, Of course you will not purchase
them for your children,-you could have
rid yourself of them without violent and
abusive vituperation." 1t is but short
time since a notice of these books first
appeared in the Register, and yet in that
lime they have undergone most rigid
examination, not even single pdra>
graph" has been omitted, deliberate
conviction has been formed, and given
to the public. No one, il is presumed,
| VIII IuSotiOh ho OSiuS q lltiCultdu tdSk.
1t is not my purpose in the present
number to enter upon the examination
OF these structures in their order, this
will be done hereafter My object in
the present Number is 10 call attention TO
the language of men who have given
their undivided attention to the waits of
Common Schools, and who have had
Mandevllle's Readers under examination
for the last year, and whose deliberations
are deliberate. The late Superintendent
of Orleans County, gentleman not un-
known to your readers, whose lectures
on School Keeping we have all read
and who has done much to advance the
interests Of schools in New England,
says: | have become acquainted with
no other series (Mandevlle's which /
regard as possessing equal merit. The
compiler has evinced very accurate es-
innate of what the learner needs. The
Books contain fewer errors, and more
excelencies than any series | have ex'
amined " The late Superintendent o.
Orange County, the business of whose
entire life has been Teaching says, rery
recently, and upon mature elaboration
II think very highly of Mandeyille's
Readers. They are beautifully execu-
ted, skiIfuIly arranged, and possess. in
my opinion, a rcry high literary charae-
ter aud moral tone. | should certainly
} regard their introduction into our schools
, as a great improvement. Another ha;
well said, Prof. Mandevlle's system is
eminently original, scientific. aud prac'
teal This is high praise bit not mOrt
unquaH fed than his books deserve. u
Here is something which comes from I
, reliable source, and is presented TO your
readers as prepar atory t. an examination
of the objections which are Violent,
urged against them. If it should be
made TO appear in the end that Parent
has wholly misjudged with reference &c
: the design Of these books, aud the want:
n of our schools, his "strictures' will fall
harmless at his feet. The door has beer
opened for rigid examination of The
, wants of our schools, and of the hooks
in question, and il is to be hoped that
the door will not be closed, until some
thing shall be accomplished Any in.
novalion upon old customs and cid form:
d will be very sure to meet with opposition
{ And it is my settled opinion that Man
, deville's Readers will meet with greater
, opposition from the ioDer grade of teach
ers than any other and all other source e:
put together. for it is their craft tina
will be endangered thereby. And mex
to them, will appear book agents them
selves.
A READER.
March OSth ISE0