Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-05
CHANGE OF SCHOOL BOOKS.

CHANGE OF SCHOOL BOOKS.
Under the head of NorEs ON New Books in the
National nelligencer few days since long, copious
and sensible review Of grammars the of grammars
in schools commenced with the following remark
" The unnecessary multiplication of textbooks in our
country has, believe, tended greatly to lower the
standard of education among u.s." The sentiment here
expressed is not merely founded in TRUTH but
an evil calling loudly for remedy. In States
" Teachers Institutes have provided partial remedy by
excluding book agents from their meetings Still the
evil is very great shown by piles Of school books out OF
in dwellings through entire country. The
of money is not the most serious evil but lowering
the standard of educaton remarked by the reviewer
Perhaps the most efectua remedy to this serious and
widespread evil would be in teachers depending less
upon Textbooks and upon direct instruction from
themselves On subject probably is this remark more
vitality important than grammar.
On this point the reviewer referred to is very full and
exceedingly intelligent and sensible His sentiments
the subject, if adopted and carried out would at
greatly lessen the evil in schools of perpetual change
in the instruments and modes of instruction. and not
slower " but elevate standard of education. He
remarks $50 far English grammar is relied upon to
teach American English scholar the art Of speak
ing and writing his tongue correctly just SO far,
in our opinion viii this reliance prove fallacous."
by the reviewer has in great intrinsic Importance
dered of vital interest merely TO the " art of speak
ing and writing correctly, but the moral and the in
teectua improvement Of the young, at this time per-
emptorily demanded in country The futile attempts
Of giving knowledge of language by lessons from the
" hundred and grammars " with which country
has been flooded has probably made truants than
any other BY prison and house Of refuge
statistics it appears that the most first step to
lawless outrage is plOyiRg truoat.
1t hence becomes u matter Of deep interest not only
parents and teachers but every member Of the
munty to put check upon this perpetual change and
endless variety Of school books and, Of all gram
mars as "the they relied upon, the that
| reliance will prove fallacious"
Touching Baileys Grammar, about which the reviewer
speaks both in terms Of commendaton and criticism
several substantial objections manifest presented
by him. The "trpqyte' classification of words though
mpractieable in its carvings out is perncious in its
tendency. Excluding adjectiyes class ofvwords and
merging them into nouns, is not only and bold step
in language, but wholly mpracticabe in its practical
workings Though . the includes the adjective I"
as stated by the author in his subsequent Of
it, he ii forming distinct class Of words modif-
ell in great variety of forms to the essential and
important duties Of its Office The tendency Of present.
ing this important part Of speech in form and using
in another is produce uncertainty and confusion in
the mind Of the pupil
Placing the adverb among the " particles" is another
objection TO the arrangement of words in this grammar
The adjective and the adverb have in language
extent virtually the ofce-o express quality the
one Of actor, the other of action Clay was nm
eloquent speaker and Clay spoke eloquently viru-
ally the same phrase simply changing the noun into q
verb and the adjective into adverb the latter by adding
~ the most mode Of making this modification.
Touching verbs the author says An ntransitve verb
does not admit after il the object Of the
ton: John plays transitive verb admits after il
which is the object Of the action ms John reads
Virgil If person with q moderate certainly criti-
cal knowledge of grammar should be requested select
ransitve verb from the two words play and read he
would probably be little likely take the former
than the latter Play to all intents and purposes if
always in very numerous cases. is truly and clearly
transtye verb as any word in language. Some
might be disposed TO spoil good English sentence for
the sake Of parsing il by saying the boys play al ball
but would probably say they play or sing ola
Hundred" that they play al marches watzes Max
ing distinction without difference fail to
\ iHjure by confusing young mind
/ The rules Of Syntax in Baeys Grammar less SIM
pie clear and specific than in most Of its predecessors
Pupils will hence be required to learn rules, and,
though longer, not clear those already committed
20 memory certain at least produce confusion when
cearness ought to be the first point aimed at Various
other Of loose and confused discrimination might
be referred to in this grammar but they omitted
for another objection TO this work schoo-book more
important perhaps than either of those referred TO.
Committing to memory large mass of abstract defni-
tons and rules, not one word of which can be under
stood by young mind, must inevitably nhic injury
upon that mind lasting life, The doctrine that dry
distractions should be committed to memory for the pur
pose Of being understood future time is little
worse, indeed very much worse than taking into the
stomach food to be digesed future and distant
period. The produces disease Of mind, the other
only Of the body But the design Of this grammar is to
have great portion OF il committed TO memory the
hrst step in mastering the work. which must be the first
aud the last STEP IL could most surely be
pretended by young mind through such an introduc-
.on. Another new grammar with many serious OBJ
ecuohs added TO the hundred and one already afct-
ing innocent and sprighy young beings be punish
ing innocence rather severely than be permitted
IN inns age Of indulgence in family and school regimen
HE oEEAT WEsTERS RArLRosD,-The Great Western,
from inc Niagara TO Detroit If the information before
US IN Cca paper Is correct viii be opened before the
cose Oh the present year On this authority il is stated
that the eastern division frnn Nianrn Eaa ~ unrnilton