Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-06-19
For the Eastern Times.
School Books.

\
aualiaed to Judge. Of such ,masxsrs. al no, ia
sor lheir introduction, into ouf> Schools; and
no County Institute, osnyention Of ysuperin-
ktendins Schook Committees, Member of the
Board of Education, or either of the Secreta-
RES Of the Board, did, to my knowledge, give
any, EXPRESSION fayorah to- their use in four
ecAools. 1.-The publisher, finding thatthe books
would not CO." as the saying is, not only
because of their not being adapted in plan
to the wants Of cur schools, hut because Of the
lo,o and vulgar iash of which they were CONS
posed, put forth in 1850, another edition, leav-
ing out portion ofthe most Objectionable Sc
lections in the former edition. sH aH
Every teacher, engaged in the Institutes in
1850, that could he bought up, was a paid
agent of the Publishers of Mandeville's Books ;
and by this means the books were used in sew
eral of the Institutes but notwithstanding all
this, not a single Institute, to my knowledge,
gave an expression favorable to the books. -,
The publishers, feeling -chagrined at the
very poor success they met with, after having
spent so much money, rcsorted to another mode
of tactics, the holding of Rhetorical Institutes,
getting up and carrying on these Institutes, is
this; a Vaudeville agent, or some one for him,
will give notice for holding one of such, time
and place; and when the time arrives. they or
ganize by choosing Committee on Resolutions
for this seems to be ell the organization that is
necessary to accomplish the object in view,
which is an expression in favor of Mandeville's
books These Committees are always very ef-
fcient of course; and so completely do they
understand their business, that if any one viii
take the trouble of reading their productions,
they would hardly mistrust that they did not
emanate from the same pen.
Several of these Institutes have been held in
this County since last March. The sixth one
has just been held in our city,, under the
charge of Mr. Eveleth, of New York, (alias) OF
New Gloucester, sway down east in the State
Although so much effort has lately been
made in this County, particularly about the
time of the annual Spring Elections, not a sim
gle Committee have decided to introduce the
series of books. This last remark may not cor
respond with the stories told for Buncombe, by
the agents. but, if any of these dispute it, let
them publish a certificate from any Committee
to the contrary. .+. - ....-. +
i think it would be well for the people to
look into this business, and put stop to such
barefaced imposition, by giving no countenance
to their so called Teachers Institutes, which
are got up. not for the purpose of beneftling
parents, children or teachers; but for the sole
purpose of getting Vaudeville s series of Read
ing books into our schools whether the people
want them or not.
Why is it that the publishers resort to this
unprecedented method of introducing their
books Is it because they are afraid TO trust
them on their own merits, or is it because they
think that the people in Maine are not capable
themselves, nor through their Committees, OF
judging whose books they wish TO have used
in their schools We should judge the latter,
if we take the instrument used to enIighten
the people on this subject, as criterion. We
think it fully verifies the passage of Scripture,
"The foolish things of this world are chosen to
confound the wise ..-.. SIN ..
have already said more on the subject than
Intended, and will close by requesting you to
publish the following article from the State
Signal of May 22d, 1851. A MEsuIpHoS
Mr.. EDITOR Feeling the importance of I'M
do and & . Vps
ly held in the different Counties of this State,
l addressed member of the Board of Educa-
ton upon this subject; and they all adopt
resolves in favor of Mandevilie's Reader, took
the liberty to inquire his opinion of their
merits and it would oblige the public and nv
self ifyou would publish his answer.
... -.u .f.-i 4 Committeeman Of Waldo.
" SIR:-Ir reply to your inquiries, l would
say, that in these days of .'reachers' Insti-
tutes, when catalogue after catalogue, con-
tanning resolutions commencing a particula ar
series of reading books, is sent to committees
IN almost every mail, it is very natural that
the question should arise, s'whe;her the Insti-
tutes which sent these catalogues are the reg
ular State institutes under the supervision of
the members of the Board of Education 70 In
answer 10 this question, would say that they
are not the authorized State Institutes, but are
Voluntary Reading Glasses, under the patron-
age of a foreign publishing house. and differ
very much from tie Institutes in the following
particulars 1. The State Institutes hold
their sessions in the Fall, and these voluntary
classes hold their meetings in the Spring 9.
The object of the Institutes, it is we'll under
stood, is to qualify teachers. in every respect,
for the better discharge of their duties in our
public schools !; the object of these voluntary
classes 1t is equally well understood, is to ex-
hlbit and make prosely,es to Mandevlles sys-
tenn of reading books, and to secure their intro.
duction into schools, %. No authorized
Teachers Institute, under the supervision. of
the Members of the Board Of Education and
patronage of the State, during the past or pres
ent year, has expressed by resolution or other
wise, any approval of Mandeville's Readers. or
recommended their introduction into the
schools of this State. All such commendatory
resolutions, in regard to these books, purport-
ing to emanate from Teachers Institutes, have
been adopted BY these voluntary classes which
are under the exclusive direction and instruc-
ton of the agents for these books. .-.
The SO called Institutes which have been
held during the present season in Dixfeld,
Skowhegan, Greene, Camden, Union, " aldo
boro, and Lewiston, were all Of this character;
and having stated the above facts IN relation 10
them, will leave it with You to Judge of the
degree of confidence which should be placed in
the recommendations of books, coming from
such interested sources. E tat'-i Z --.i
In reply to your question asking my opinion
of Prof Mandevilles series OF Readers, l would
briefly say that am fully convinced that they
are not well adapted, either in plan matter,
to the wants of our public schools. There is
entirely too much machinery about the system
in my opinion, ever to be Of any practical utili-
ty; and as the Rev. Russell Ssreeter, OF Port.
land remarks. IL think that too many of the Sc
lections are light, iudcrous, vulgar, or worth
less.'' Ri" M - 80 ''''