Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1853-03-30
RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH 80 1888
COMMON SCHOOLS.

COMMON SCHOOLS. 3.
We publish below, by request of Mr.. Wiley, a
letter to the Chairmen of the Boards of County
Superintendents of Common Schools, &c.
Mr.. Wiley is now on tour through the North
eastern Counties, and we grat6ed to learn that
his labors have been attended with much benefit
to the noble cause committed to his hands:
To the Chairman Of the Boards of County iSuper-
sntendents Of Common Schools to Eransini,q
Committees, aud others interested IN the cause of
general Education IN North Carolina
The law authorizes NE, as General Superintendent
of Common Schools, for the State, to recommend
books to be used as text books, in all our Common
Schools: and 1t was hoped and expected that this re-.
commentator would be generally obeyed. The rea-
sons for investing this sIthorty, in some one, are
obvious to all experienced teachers; and many of
these, in view Of existing difficulties, are even of
opinion that some one should have the power of pre-
scribing, absolutely. what books should be used.
1t is impossible :or teacher to do justice many
scholars when there are many classes there are
pupils; and it is we'll known TACT ,ha. in great
majority of Common Schools the variety of text
books is nearly equal in number to the number Of
pupils.
1t is, therefore, important that my Recommendation
should be generally adopted and this notice is now
given that all parties may be prepared for the Cir
culars which will soon be issued to all the Commit.
tees of Examination.
l desired, before making nay recommendation, to
ascertain, if possible, what books, worthy of being
adopted now most generally in in the State !:
the convenience of parents and the cheapness of the
works recommended objects not to be over looked.
And may we'll state here, also, that in regard
Biographies, have had some difficulty, for it
impossible for WRITER'S out of the State, to do justice
TO North Carolina. In popular work of this kind,
recently published, and one otherwise worthy of
being used, it is stated that the Pilot Mountain is
of the chief natural features of the State and is su
ated " near the Virginia line AN expression, ap-
parently borrowed from class of emigants who
wished to mitigate the disgrace of being natives of
the State. by qualifying it with the explanation that
they were from " near the Virginia line" Without
disparaging the Old Dominion, it should be we'll
understood in North Carolina that her mountains
of their dignity of character from their proximi-
~ to the boundary line of Virginia.
In another late work on Geography, much used in
our Academies, it is stated that the principal towns
of the State are Wilmington, New Berne, Washing
ton, Edenton, Raleigh, Oyford Beaufort, and .ash-
borough!
At Beaufort hope to see great City, but it is
yet in embryo. Oxford is village famed for its
beauty and hospitality, and Ashborough is County
seat, remarkable for its morality and good order but
it is rather burlesque, which the good citizens of
those places will readily admit, to designate. either
Of them a chief town of North Carolina.
In the public schools Of North Carolina under its
patronage and care the children should learn
thing of their native adopted State; and it is i'm
portant that the information of this kind should be
correct.
That this end may be accomplished, 1 shall make
application to the author of Of the books alluded
to- fer permission his work and if he will
consent, the edition so revised will be recommended
to the Schools of the State.
have prepared card or hand-bill to be posted,
in conspicuous place, the wall. in every free
school house in the State; and hope tha, the County
Chairmen will distribute cePies to the Committees
of their respective Counties, with instructions to this
effect Copies, for tkis purpose, will be sent from
Raleigh to all the Chairmen.
This handbil contains instructions to teachers and
pupils if placed, as DESIRED it will be read by all
thus letting teachers and pupils know that the eyes
of the State looking apon them and its voice OF
encouragement and admonition reaching them in every
Common School in the State. Teachers, knowing
that their pupils will read, and compare their conduct
with the standard of duties recommended, will be
careful and emulous to succeed scholars, wher
properly checked admonshed, will be more likely
10 obey, seeing that the teacher is backed by th'
authority of the State.
G. H. WILEY,
Gen. Sup. Com. Schools.
Jackson, N. c., March IL, 1853
| Editors Of the State will please copy the above il
| their papers.