Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-21
For the Free Press.
Uniformity of School Books.

will be constrained 10 dchHO"Ie"S0 'Hat ~
Is defective. Az that defect consists in the
irregularity Of the books used Some of the
teachers of Common Schools are compelled to
teach FIVE or six different Arithmeties, to say
nothing of the heterogeneous multiplicity of
reading books. &c. In penning few discon-
nected ideas on this vastly important, though
too much neglected subject, | would not pre-
sumo to be thought capable of advising the
experienced of this prospecting land. But
should be able to cause them to consider the
paramount importance of removing this time
honored impeachment to intellectual improve
ment, shall have realized my most extrava-
CANT expectations. l am much pleased with
an article on this subject, from the pen of the
California Superintendent of Common Schools
In which it is stated that California has legis-
lative enactment authorizing the establishing
of regular course of school books Aud the
Superintendent moi only advises The conmiss-
toner's on this topic, but goes on to enumerats
the particular books Of the various sciences to.
lie adopted in the public srhvul5. Had Ton
nessee adopted regular course of study when
she established her present system of Free
Schools, she would in all probability have saved
Gov. John SON the trouble of informing her
legislators. that in an educational point Of
view," she is surpassed by al her sister States
Arkansas excepted. Now if we are not amid
California, do we not as much need regular
course of instruction?
The lterali and the uniutcred respond, yes
Echo reverberates yes yes!!
But one old Foggy saws, custom has estab-
lshed the present course, usually followed in
our Common Schools And in the language OF
the Declaration of Independence "cus,oms
should not be changed for light and transient
causes" Hold old Foggy. are you not a lit
tie too fast? Are you right sure that custom
has established any regular set of text books
for our Common Schools? l trow not. But
a regular course is just what is needed and
what must be had ere the rising generation
keeps pace with the present rapid march of
Science. Again You seem to intimate that this
is light matter. Is it not great bOrier to ed
ucation ? Which alone is capable of elevating
the intellectual, above physical man. Offorc-
ing the curbed bit of ohesence in the brutal
jaws of passion. while reason entbroned shall
weld the rens of government. ] am not
avOwed Young America" ] am not an advo-
cate OF modern Innovations. unless, such chan
ges are for the better. But there are those
who regret the Innovations of the day, who.
like the Chinese wish us to live. as people
lived two hundred years ago. | would ask
such, would not one of your sons make gro
tes1ue appearances if he were a:tired in his
grand fathers costume, with his short panta-
looms, long stockings, knee buckles, &C., &c?
Your good sense would compel You to answer,
yes. 1t would be be excreahle Well how
much more excreabIe Is 1t, when YOU declare,
by not furnishing your children with the right
kind Of school books. that their teachers shall
attempt to cram their minds. ''the precious Jew
els of the Baskets" with unchcrishahle ideas,
from an indigestabe mass of old, obsolete,
musty books, the antiquity of which may be-
known by the F's and SIS being nearly, alike.
1t is too often the case that parents, not re-
Numbering that
"a pebble in the streamlets cant.
Has turned the course of many n river;
dew drop on the baby plant.
May warp the jan; oak forever
/ Reason TINS; We have oil bao,<: We will
send our children to school with these and
thereby save the erira expense of purchasing.
Now for the result. A teacher of Common
School will have his classes multiplied. hv such
an argument, until, it would require "ihe
/ strength of SAMSON the patience Of JOB, the
perseverance of JACOB, combined with the
wisdom of SOLOMON, to give to each class, in
which the pupil wOuld be head; and none below
/ him, the attention which it would demand -
| Besides, unless YOU have had expireuce in
teaching, you know mol the great influence, it
has in retartling the progress of pupils. Now,
let me present few arguments logically in
favor of my position. If uniform course of
books were judciousy selected. adopted, our
state would have as good a course as any in
the Union. But the present system is far
behind many others. Therefore a uniform
course would be better.
The merchant and buyer would be benefit
ted. For the merchant knowing what books
would b e needed would lay in his stock acp 4
dinghy. and in selling, would deduct -
per cent. for uncertainty of sale, an1>sIr1 IL
books sooner and cheapeg--&aeRSe, the buyer
and seller would be benefited. 1t would be
better for both teachers and students For the
teachers knowing what they would be required
to teach could prepare themselves much better.
And by CHASING their students, they would
have ample time to devote to each Glass;
H ence it would infinitely better for teachers and
students will add parody from the Dec
laration.- You are constrained to acknowledge
that all experience has shown, that you are
more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufera-
Bile, than to right yourselves, by abOlisLiag the
forms to which you are accustomed. But when
a long train Of wrongs and negligeneies, pur-
suing invariably the same object, evinces de-
J SIGN to retain you under absolute despOtism, it
is your right, it is your duty, to throw off such