North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-11-15
From the Wilmington Journal.
EDUCATION-No.<9.

/ r..
interest, article in your paper OF last week, from
lthe pen of An Old Field Teacher" am sincerely
gratifed my in attracting the attention and
enstng the efforts OF 80 valuable co.iaoorer n Inc
should tend in any degrass 20 awaken new and IN
lguiring spirit on the subject eEedacaton, and enlist
the ADLER and more Of school Teach.
ers in the grave work, my own feeble exertIons VIII
be more than compensated, and my veliest anticPa-
lions for their success realized. appreciation
of the influence Of music once led amateur to re-
mark that, provided he could make the songs, ne
cared not who made the laws of the people" Ii 1
could arouse the school Teachers consciousness
of their duties and responsibilities. and lead them to
appreciate themselves their high and dignifed calling
care not what defects might prevail in the details OF
/ our common school laws, more good would result
than any tinkering at legislation could accomplish
/ In my opinion, the occupation of school Teacher
though high. dgnied and useful is less appreciated
and less renumerated in North Carolina in proper
ton the services rendered, Than that any other
occupation profession. One of the most honora-
BILE and noble callings ever followed by man, it is
Notifying to see the great disrespect with which It
is generally looked upon by society. How often do
hear the teacher charged with the mere desire OF
obtaining money for his services. without having his
whole soul engaged in the work, and approaching
his own opportunities for educating and moralzing
the community. No man is calculated to exert
more salutary influence upon the morals of society,
and create wholesome and lasting Impressions upon
the rising generation, than the school-master; and
yet him dsregaTded. and often mentioned with
dsrespect, and sometimes with dersion, in North
Carolina. This is, In great degree, owing 10 want
of intelligence in the public mind, and 10 want OF
correct tone of public sentiment in regard to the
whole subject but let it also be borne in mind that
this inappreciaon has, ina considerable degree, been
brought about by teachers themselves. "To thine
self be true." applies with much correctness
and force classes and associations to man in
an individual sense. The teachers in many in.
stances untrue to themselves. They are not properly
aroused body they depriving themselves OF
the great benefit of symstematic action and regular Or
ganization. They do not understand one another
There is that mutual confidence harmony and con-
cert faction. necessary to that concentration OF enor
which is given by union and organization. Let them
organize and show their rights and just pretenslons
to higher position in society, and then more des
rable appreciation of their services will be awarded
them The great idea of the present age Is, progress
moral, intellectual and physical Improvement. On
ward is written in glowing characters over the whole
face of society. Ali trades and occupations now more
than ever feel its galvanic touch. And this onward
and upward progress is owing, in great degree, TO
associated eor-o that concentration of action which
springs alone from the magic power OF association
Hence it is we see political, mechanical, medical,
temperance and religious associations and conventions
everywhere forming throughout the country. Men
learning the value of systematic, harmonious &C
ton. This is the great secret the possession OF which
has enabled the North outstrip the South in the
great race of physical, mechanical, commercial and
literary attainments. But the South has now de-
termined no longer to remain laggard in the race
but to increase and concentrate her own native ee-
ments of power of wealth and Of greatness, by hus-
banding her political we'll intellectual and
physical resources.
Let the school teachers of our State be moved to
action by kindred inspiration. Let them hold con-
venons has been done in other States adopt their
constitution and rules establish uniform system Of
instruction hold their regular meetings, County or
State establish and patronize educational journals,
and take such other steps to protect their rights and
interests, and to advance the of education, as
justice to themselves requires and the spirit of the
times demand and be assured the great popular heart
will be reached and caused to throb with the pusa-
I'M inf
Mr. Editor, is worthy the very able pen of An Old
Field Teacher Let me urge him to continue in
your paper his communications on education, and
particularly this branch of the system. He is evil
IDENTIFY able to be efficient co-worker in the great
field. He writes with the candor, intelligence and
feelings of gentleman and from his occupation is
calculated to do a vast deal of good.
In that portion of my article to which " An Old
Field Teacher objects, expressly RETAINED from
recommending any list of textbooks for our common
schools, and appealed TO those more officially con-
nected with the operations of the systems to 60 for
ward and act in the matter. 1t is true, remarked
that preferred IS those good old authors. But
did this not because thought them the best school
books extant, for admitted they had been imProv-
ed upon" but were probably better than the numerous
catch-Penny books used to great extent in our COM
mon schools. did this also, fur the purpose of con-
trasting my ideas of proper textbooks nth the pres
ent ever-ncreasng desire for change everywhere pre-
vailing. Why, sir, understand that the science of
geography has been reduced TO musical numbers. and
child is actually learnt sing itself into knowl
excellent authority in repndating these numberless
pseudo-school books! The New York State Socie- |
ty for the diffusion of Useful knowledge, whose pa
tient and perseverng attention has been directed to
the selection of proper textbooks, have declared,
g that of hundred and twenty spellingboo ex
tant, purporling exhibit arrangement of
the elements of our language. t,Do only make any
near approaches to proper standard works" And the
one most favorably recommended, is Cobb's new
spellng-book. OF the three hundred and fifty gram
mars of our language, one hundred and sixty-four
that society has declared, " that three only, one Brit
ish, and two American, be properly regarded as
approximations to standard works." Now, in this
multiplicity of inferior books, and in the absence of
any authoritative recommendation upon the subject
in this State would it not be better to cherish our
s. reverentia love for the good old authors than
to them supplanted by works of inferior char
acter? But frankly admit, if was in authority, or
in any way officially connected with our Common
School system, that would not recommend a " re-
turn TO those good old books" should consult the
very highest authority upon the subiect-examne !
what the Literal; of other States thought most suita
BILE for Common School purposes and be guided in
a great measure by their Judgment and experience.
agree with you in your estimate of the Art h |
metic and Mathematics Of Professor Davies Of the U.
5. Military Academy at West Point. Professor Da- |
vies has methodized his works to the eompletest
raRgement; commencing with the simplest principles
of computation, and ascending by regular gradatiohs
from the elements of Arithmetical progression the
highest departments of pure NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. |
ing connected series from the simplest to the grand
est conceptions of mathematical reasoning. Those
textbooks written in regular successive numbers, and
embracing series of measured steps, proceeding |
from the same hand, greatly superior to those of
isolated character and have all the advantage of