Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-08-22
For the journal.


Mr. ED1roR-I haze said that the possession of
good teachers was essentially necessary to the eh-
cheney of Common School instruction no less impor
tant in my opinion is the selection and use of pro-
per books 1t is one of the defects in our Common
School laws that no uniform of studies have
been prescrbed-no set of textbooks adopted, suita
bic the use and mental training of children Eve
rythng is left to the choice and caprice of teachers
and in this age when cheap publications are multi
piled almost indefinitely, and one textbook is made
to supplant another with the rapidity almost that
the moon fills her horns, much injury must result
from such changes and affect materially the cause
of education The same false opinion seems to pre-
vail, that as any is competent to teach small
children so any write books for their study
and many authors conclude, in writing childrens
books that they cannot make them too childish, and
hence fill their pages with unmeaning prattle and
nonsense When we reflect upon the various effects
and influences produced upon minds by the first
books we studied the different feelings, passions or
prejudices therein appealed to-what reasoning was
used what truths nculcated land can probably
trace present belief in matters of material inter-
est to germs of thought acquired from frstread
authors the value of proper selection seems appa
rent to all. That no books, unless they nculcate
invaluable truths with the elements of SCIENCE should
be read adopted textbooks in schools. DR..
FRANKLIN thought his whole career had been shaped
and influenced by his perusal of DEFoE's Essays on
Projects during his boyhood. So have many other
distinguished men attributed their peculiar
of life and bent of character to the influence exerted
upon their minds by the pcrusal of particular books
in early youth. have shown that proper conversa-
ton with maternal instruction form the best books
for children under five years old beyond this age
severer discipline is required Then commences the
philosophy of education.
Books for children very readily arrange themselves
under two heads. LIST. Those of instruction; Cd
Those of amusement. Of the former it is not my
purpose to speak, shall methodize any plan or
recommend any list for our schools. The Legislature
before last enoned it duty upon the Literary Board
to publish and circulate such instructions they
thought necessary to the efficiency of the system
This Board contented itself with merely compiling
the laws on the subject without one word of com
ment or recommendation. Now the members of
this Board the only persons connected with the
system who obtain anything like just pay for their
services, hold it to be their duty to first in
the matter.
And may I not hope inasmuch as the Literary
one of whose members Ga prominent and excel
lent writer) graduated at old-fed school," that
some more interest will be manifested on the sub
ject By the way, will take the liberty of saying
that many such graduates would do more honor and
service to their alma Mailer than all the laws the
Legislature could enact will merely say of school
books in general, that knowledge of the elemental
e ry branches in my opinion, can best be obtained by
IL Jz1lF i.
and that prefer those good old authors, viz Del
worth or Webster's spelling book, Murray's gram
mar, and Pixies arithmetic. By some authors ad
nit these works have been improved upon ; but il
nine out of ten, recent progress in the way
of book making has tended rather to enfeeble, tt
stultify. and almost debase, the intellect and sent
ment of the contemporary generation of children"
1t was once said that the Legislature had actually
legiaated the people out of knowledge of the laws
just so in making, they have been simplifet
beyond the comprehension of the simple. The minC
should not be crowded with multiplicity of studies
s They should be free and comprehensive. The ide,
: that the mind of child can grasp so much at once
and become proficient in all, Gas is sometimes report
n ed from higher school examinations is simpl,
s ridiculous Teachers sometimes boast of the prof
e cheney of their scholars in grammar arithmetic, ge
n ography, botany: chemistry, and astronomy, ant
5, sometimes Latin and Greek, to the great delight
parents, when thorough examination of the stu
dents capabilities would satisfy any discerning
mind that he had better yet be turning over tn
leaves of good old spelling book 1t is not tn
amount of learning acquired but rather the MANNE
by which it is obtained, that gives evidence of tho
II rough mental discipline. The progress of the chill
should be slow, patient, and thorough. One lessor
,r thoroughly understood is worth dozen Indifferent
l. learned
I'd Books of amusement general reading.
Many of the books used in our schools as readin
10 books are unsuted to the mental appetite of chill
'r dren-unadapted to the cravings of the warm an
y fresh heart of childhood. The mind of youth SOC
tires the dull recital of the facts and character
of practical life it requires something etherea
" in its nature-a sort of mental balloon to enable
OF to above the realities of subunary beings an
es identify itself with others of fairy land chill
in only become interested and love to read it
I'd realize the and love the characters portrayed
and these only be correctly pictured in tn
imagination those works which appeal more directl
to the heart and imag ination of children, mos
likely to arrest their attention and engage their syn
Il pathies. Fairy tales, such our own countrymal
III NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, can put up, best suit tn
IL purpose. The child likes something startling. wo,
III dertul, marvellous; such as aerial exploits, hal