Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-12-05
"NORTH-C CAROLINA READERs "

mon School books, entitled "Thc North C,-,I;
Reader Nos. 1; 2, and 8, the two first nv +o
Rev. F. NJ. Hubbard of the University, and tbeIast
by q. H. Willy, Esq, Superintendent of Common
| Schoos-all of them prepared and published. how.
ever, under the auspices of the latter gentleman
Professor Hubbard in the Preface the First Read
er, states what is we'll known, that the Reader Nh
| was made by Mr.. Wiley before he was elected 70
hls present Office but he adds, that Mr. Wiley not
wishing while acting the highest executive Off
of the Schools, to be interested in the sale ~
schoooooks, sold his work, at cost, the present
publishers Mcssrs. A. S. Barnes & Co.. of New
York, on condition that they would employ Seine
citizen of the State to prepare the two primary
numbers. This task Prof Hubbard consented to
undertake-and the re suits of his labors tooetbcr
| with those of Mr.. Wiley, before u.s.
| These books have been prepared with snecial ro
ference to the wants and interests Of North Carolina
and they are emphatically North Carolina works
The advantages of this series of Readers are TIM,
| stated by Prof. Hubbard
81 The ENCOURAGEMENT OF A FEELING op sr,v
| DEPENDENCE, and the enlistment of popular senti
ment in behalf of the State and of it's institutions
1t was not thought important, however, to have
more than one No. of the Readers of merely local
interest.
2. To remedy the euiI, ersrYscAere complained Of
an Common iSchooL, Of pel7aetuaIchange Of teri
books; az expensive habit, and one which Injuries
the schools by preventing the children from being
classified. series of home Readers it was sun-
posed, would be certainly used, and this great evil
thus avoided.
g. ECONOMY, the popular systems of Readers be-
ing too long, and being made often merely to add
to the profits of authors and publishers
This series Is to consist of fewer numbers than
those generally used; and it is believed that these
numbers are sufficient, while if the system were uni
versally used in the State the saved to parents
and children would amount to several thousand
dollars annually.
4. To put in the hands Of chilRre7 learning to
red@ compositions sntteienty familiar, but not Of
the character called childish compositions contain
ing, in lessons easy enough for all ages, correct
specimens of style, interesting in matter, and in.
culcatng proper moral and religious instruction.
How nearly this last object has been attained is
not proper for the undersigned to undertake to de-
eide: he can only say that his purpose has been
such indicated.
Finally the series is not over burdened with rules,
while there are enough to suggest to teachers the
kind of instruction which, to be most effective must
necessarily come from them"
Reader No. 1 is designed for small children First
we have the letters of the alphabet with their sounds
then easy lessons in spelling and reading-then
pictures, plain verses and spelling in two and three
syllables; while iii the midst and towards the con-
cuslon OF the work, there interesting narratives
tor children, explanations Of terms and words and
lessons drawn from history and Holy Writ.
Reader No. contains, first Rules and Instruc-
tons in reading, and these followed by lessons
IN prose and poetry, which seem to to be we'll
adapted to the minds and to the mental wants of
those for whom they intended.
Reader No, g. is substantially the same work here
tofore published by Mr.. Wiley, and no particular
reference to its contents is, therefore, necessary
These books have been we'll printed and bound,
each of them containing a suitable amount of mat
ter to the end in view. The paper is good, and the
types used are large, full, and clear. They are
commended by the State Superintendent to be used
in all the Common Schools; and we trust this
commentator, given as it has been to works which
possess much intrinsic merit, and which at the
same time North Carolina books in their tone, in
their Objects and in their character generally will
be cordially received in Common Schools, as
we'll in all other institutions in the State in which
the education of the young is undertaken and
cared for. These Readers will be sold (as stated in
the titlepages) by E. j. Hale 6 Son. Fayetteville,
and by W. L. Pomeroy, Raleigh; and, we doubt
not by booksellers and merchants of the State gen.
orally We are not fully informed as to the arrange
ments made contemplated in this respect; but ws
may assure those who may desire to procure this
series of Readers, that the number printed will be
ample and tLat they will encounter no difficulty in
obtaining them.
We copy below, in full, the preliminary remarks
Of Mr.. Wiley which accompany these Readers:
!" Preliminary Remarks Of the General .Superinte1s.
dent Of Common ,ScH0ob
The progress of general education in North Car
oina for the last few years. every thing considered
has been very remarkable, and almost without
parallel. -.....sr-
According to the Census of 1910, there were
hen in the State 2 colleges, 141 academies and
and 6S2 primary schools of all
kinds. There at school in colleges 1853 scho-
.rs; in academies, 4,39S; in primary schools A.
)S7 in all, 19, 49S scholars.
About this time the common school system went
INTO operation, and now, while the population has
increased bat little educational statistics
ollows: We have 5 male colleges, and one other in
orogress; female colleges, and several others in
progress; at least 200 academies and grammar
schools, and about 1000 primary schools.
The University alone has now many students
- were attending in it and in the only other col
ege in 1870 and there attending all the schools
t least 100000 childrenl This is an increase OF
TX hundred per cent since 1910.
. The common schools, lying at the foundation OF
his vast SYSTEM and composing its most important
TART, have undergone decided change for the bet
er within the last few years, and from causes now
ilenty at work, and the increasing power given to
he cause of education by the increasing proportion
t educated people, this forward progress will &C
uire . more rapid movement every year. The
ommom schools are becoming : and more EN-"
ient~the epdrse Of studies in them Is bse0Salng