Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-03-30
Our Common Schools.

Wie,, a short letter 10 the Cha rmen of the
Boards Of County Superintendent OF Com
mon Schools. &c.
MIR. w. IS at present upon his first tour OF
visitation, having reached as far as Jackson
Northampton Co, and expecting to continue
Eastwardly, un to Currituck. before turning
his immediate attention to any other part OF
the State. We are highly gIatined to learn
that lis laborS have been atten led,-aS we
confidently expected they would be,-wish
grea; g~ood.-Success to his glorious and noble
mcssioa = Raieigh Register.
To the Chairmen of the Boards of County Su-
perintendenls ofColnmon Schoo S, to Exam
ining Committees, and others intereStei Iii
the c use Of general Education i'll North
Carolina
Tie law authorizes M, as General Superin
tendent of Common Schoo 5, for the ri. .te, 10
recommend books to be used IS text books, in
all our Common Schools and t was hoped ami
expected that this recommendation would Oe
generally obeyed TIE reasons for investing
ihis authority, in some one, are obvious to AL
experienced teachers and many of these, in
view OF existing difficulties, are eveno OF opinion
that some one should haze the power OF pre-
scrIGIng, ALSO. ute what books should he used
1t IS impossible Tor one teacher 10 10 justice
TO many scholars when there are as many classes
as there arr pupils and il IS a well known
t'ct that in a great majority OF our Common
Schools the variety of text noo~s is nearly
equal in number to the number OF pupils.
1t is. therefore, important that my recom,nen
dation should be gener,ily adopted and
This notice is now given that ali part es may be
preparcdfo for the Circulars which will soon be
issued to all Committees of Examination.
l desired, before making my recommends
ton, 10 ascertain, if possibie, what books. wOr-
Try OF being adopted, are now most general y
III use il the State the convenience OF par
ents and the cheapness OF the works recon-
mended are o. iects not to be overlooked.
And | MAY as well state here. also, that in re.
gard to Biographies, | have had solGe difficult
". for il seems impossible for writer's, out OF
the State, to do justice to North Carolina. In
ID popular work, recently published, and one
Otherwise worthy OF being used, it IS stated tn
the Pilot Mountain is one Of the chief natura
features Of the State. and Is situated near the
Virginia llnG'-an expression. apparently Dor
rowed from a class Of emigrants who wished tC
mitigate the disgrace Of being natives Of the
State, by qualifying it with the explanation
III I they were from NEAR the Virginia line
Without disparaging the Old Dominion, il
should be wei understood in North Caro- ina
that her mountains borrow none OF their grant
features, and Ter people none Of their dignity
Of chara, ter, from their proximity to the boua.
Diary line of Virginia.
La another late work on Geography, mucl
used il our A. ademies. it is stated thtt the
principal towns Of the State are Wilmington
New Berne, Washington, EIenton, Ra.eish
Oxford, Beaufort, and Ashoorough!
At Beaufort we hope to see a great City,
but it is yet in embryo o. Oxford is q Vi Iag(
famed for its beauty and hospitality, and Ash
borough is a County seat, remarkable for it
mora lily and good order bat it's rataer a bur
lesque. which the good citizens OF those place:
viii readliy admit to designate either of then
as a chief town OF North Z rolina.
In the pubic schools of North Carolina, un
der It's patron,g9 ami care, the children should
learn SOM thing Of their native or adopted
~t,te an it is important that the Information
Of this kind should be correct
That Thu end my be accomplished, | shall
make app ication to the author Of one IF tht
books al Cded to, for permission 10 correct hi
work aud Ifh he viii consent, the edition st
revised will be recommended to the Schools O
tue State.
| have prepared a card or handful to BIZ
posted, in a conspicuous p ace. on the wall, il
wv = INV AlO'EN III AhS CtoNO = dthA
hope that the County CHARM n will distribute
copies to the Committees Of their respectiv,
j Counties. with instructions to this effect
Copies, for thi> purpose, will be sent from RAJ
eigh to all the Oh irlnon.
This aand-bH contains instruction to teach
ers and pupils, if paced, asdesired, it viii b
: re d by al. thus letting teachers and papi
q know that the eyes of the State ere Iookin
y upon them, and It's voice of ,ncoura1 emer
IN adnonition r]eachiag them in every Con
, mon School i'll the State. Teachers, known
that their pupils ~iI read, and compare the
conduct W t. thest ,ndard Of duIie les reconmenc
: ed will be morc careful and emu.ou, to suI
coed scholars, When properly checked or al
monished will be the more likely to obey, Sc
ing that the teacher is backed by the authorit
OF the State.
C. II. WILEY.
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