Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-02-03
SCHOOL DISTRICT LIBRARIES.

SCHOOL DISIRICI LlBRAkIES-
One-tenth Of the income of the School
Fund Is now devoted 10 the purchase of
School District Libraries. Since the law,
making this provision, went into effect. the
sum apportioned to the school districts of the
State for this purpose, has been Sl0,06l p
The districts, in addition to
this, have raised by tax for
the same purpose l,209 90
The total amount received
and expended, is 1870 p
The total number Of vol
umss uow contained IN the
district Libraries of the State, is 1873
Il widI be readily seen that the number of
volumes IN the Libraries bears no proper pro
portion to the amount of money expended
I T'hi1 10 siI0 IcgisIuaE0 result OF mat system
which ooles out particular per cent. Of the
money received by each school district, COM
pelling its Immediate appropriation, regard
less of She consideration, that IN many lnstan-
ces, the amount is insufficient for ludcious
expendi.ure. Under this law, some Of the
large districts have received nearly sixty dol
lars, while some of the smaller ones received
less than one dollar. The former were thus
compelled to expend greater proportion of
their apPortioument from the income of the
School Fund, for this purpose, than was ad-
visable; and the latter were left with a sum
entirely insufficient for practical use. 1t is
apparent that this system of appropriation
will ultimately amount 10 an enormous expen-
diture without even the prospect of ever Sc
caring good Libraries to our schools | would
therefore recommend Legislative action upon
this subject. very respectable school IL
brary can be procured for the sum Of twenty
dollars. An appropriation Of ten dollars to
each school district, on condition that an
equal sum be raised by them, and the amount
.Vt,,, -E,-,-.a y-Eh
cure suitable libraries in every school district
Of the State.
SCHOOL BOOKS.
The law makes it the duty Of the Superin-
tendens OF Public Instruction ''to recommend
the introduction of the most approved text
books, and, as far as practicable, to secure
uniformity in the use of text books in the
common schools throughout the State; to
discourage the use of sectarlan books and
sectarian instruction in the schools, and ''to
advise in yhe selection Of books for school dis
trict Libraries"
| enter upon the discharge Of this portion
Of my official duty, conscious that one Of the
most sacred trasts that can be committed 10
an individual, IS the recommendation of books
/ for the use of The children of a State. From
these, impressions are unconsciously given to
their plastic N inds, which will influence them
through life. On the judicious selection Of
school books depends much Of the character
of our youth. and through them Of the future
I history of the State. The Law not only makes
il a dutY tc recommend such books as are best
calculated 20 promote the advancement OF the
scholars IA those branches required to be
taught, bat also such as are free from the faint
Of secta7I3n bi8s.
Impressed with the deiicacy of the task,
much time and attention has been given to an
of hn0
books upon the several subjects required. /
have also sought and received the counsel Of
eminent friends of education to aid me IN my
conclusions.
have thus been enabled 10 select list of
books which | -an recommend with the Ut
+ most confidence IL their practical adoption to
/ the necessities of our public schools. \ uu-
iformity Of school books Is Of great impor-
T taEce to the prosperity Of the schools OF the
State. This uniformity unfortunately does
not nov exist. A greater diversity Of text
I 5ooks, and in many instances Of an inferior
or antiQuated kiad, probably never prevailed
Z in any state. To correct this evil. unison
of action, on the part Of those whose duty It
is to prescribe books for the use Of schools, Is
indispensable. therefore respectfully, but
earnestly, scliei{ the cooperation OF all school
district officers IN the recommendation and
adoption Of she following series:
Reading B0oks.-Swan's Primary School
Readers. Parts Ist, I'd and Sd. Swans Gram
mar School Reader. Swans District School
Reader.
As distinct exercise for advanced schol-
ars. once CT twice a week, would also rec
. ommend the use of the American Manual, by
Joseph g. Burleigh, L. L. D., and Swan 5
Instructive Reader.
Swans Reading Books, commencing with
children in the prlmer,and leading them by reg
uIar gradations through the entire series OF FIVE
books, present a most thorough, systematic and
+ phil osophical method Of teaching the ait OF
reading.
Spelling Bc0k.--Swan's.
Dicftonorv.-W W ebster's.
GeograDhfsY-Mi -MitcheIl's Primary Geogra-
phv. NstcheH's School Geography and At
las. Migchell's Geographical Question Book.
-9rffhPasttcs- Intellectual Arithmetic, Col
burns. Written do. do.
Colburn's Intellectual Arithmetic Is work
thai has been long and extensively used N
nearly every State IN the Union There are
many works Of more recent issue, upon this
subject, intended to supply the place which
this little volume has SO successfully occupied
but none, think. equal It IN c'erit.
.7Lge5r1.--Ray
Geoalsiru-Davies' Practical.
.7stronoaay.- y.--Snith's (quarso.)
ITrdnn1rs.-- Green's First Lessons IN
Grammar, new edition. Green's Analysis
Of Language.
I think these two books Incomparably bet
ter adapted TO the present wants Of our schools
than any other works on the subject with
which I am sc4ua ated.
7raIgsis a cElligOts's Manual
Hist0riss.--PArIsy's First Book Of History,
Goodrich's History of the United States, (new
edition, with questions.
B0tGny.--N God 5
NaturaI Hflosophy.-Johnston's
Chemistry Johast0n's Turner'S Elements.
If the above named books could be univer-
sally adopted in the public schools Of the
State, 70 the entire exclusion Of the hetero-
reneous mass row inflicted upon cur scholars.
incalculable good would be the result
COMMON SCHOOL JOURNAL.
As an efficient auxiliary IN Psrfecting the
system and securing the success Of public IN
struction, an educational journal IS Of vast
importance. Such publication would serve
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