Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-10-31
A Dictionary For District
Schools.

In Massachusetts the School Districts are
rapidly supplying themselves with a copy each
Of Webster's Dictionary. An appropriation was
made by the Legislature few months ago 10
purchase copy for each district whenever no.
tice should De given that arrangements had been
made for ITS safe keeping.s Within ten weeks
from the time when this judicous and liberal ar
rangement took effect, between one and two
thousand Of the districts, including those of the
large cities, Boston, Cambridge, &c, had avail
ed themselves OF it. Nearly all the remaining
districts in the State will dosblless follow their
example. a.a .l
A good dictionary is an article of school ap-
paraius that ought 10 be regarded as ndispensi-
BILE. 1t is not enough that the teacher should be
skilled in English exicography the book should
be at hand 50 that he can refer to il for authori-
ties, and illustrations of nice shedes of meaning.
II should lie on the desk, so that the scholars
can themselves consult it.
Few, even of educated men, are sufficiently
aware of the evils that result from the loose and
inaccurate use of language. Few understsn nd
how powerfully and constantly attention 10 the
right selection of words acts upon the mind, -
how 1t cultvates The judgment and the taste, and
the habit OF accurate discrimination, and thus
the ability to think clearly and accurately, to
reason logically, and to act with the decision
and promplness of one who knows what he is
about -4 4stf
In this case it is not necessary to take into
account certain questions of the orthography and
pronunciation of few words, about which there
are different opinions. The dictionary is want.
ell in schools chiefly to awaken and cultivate .
disposition to attend to the meaning Of language,
aud to discriminate among the nice shades Of
thought. represented by words and phrases.
md tor thai D,lru,se all au.ee thai Kehsfer,s
Dictionary has q" rival IL etymol.gy. and in
the Completeness, accuracy aud precis,on of his
definitions, his sup rioriiy 70 unqucs Toned. A
very judic.ous ex u,.instin VI English diclIona-
ries ~ market, appeared ia ceres ct articles
in our School Journal, Vol. 2. Enough was there
said (althouyh the writer gives WUrcester the
preferences N regard 70 some points If orthog.a-
ply and oEihospyl to show that Webster's, una
bridged, u the only one that meets the wants o!
the school-room.
We believe the publishers cell Webster'a
Dictionary to the STATE Of Massachusetts 1t 9
rate, according 70 which, shout $4,000 would
put . copy INFO every school district in Vennoat.
1t would be difficult 10 devise an appropriation
Of that sum. from which The State could hope "a
derive greater and more permanent advantage
It u our misfortune 70 haze put beyond our reach
the funds 1.-THE Deposise Money! that ought "a
have been reserved for ssch purposes; and the
result is, that every proposal ofthe kind y ms'
By thrusting The sax bill 10 ons's face. Bot
what are three q fnur cents to each individual
in compaSison with the object? Who would
mot gladly pay 70 tsi6ing an sddiiion 10 his tax
for the sake Of any valuable addition to educa
tional advaniages for The benelt Il every yoott
and child anaag us2-- Hrmpn1 CkssieIe
s1ks eksise hssveoe Ws>s,ssas ~ Wesssae9's vs