Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-02-20
TENT BOOKS FOR SOUTHERN SCHOOLS

primary schools throughout the South The rssolu-
ton, MS adopted by the Convention, is not before US
asiwe wro, but We remember, with some dstinctuess
that it was Objectionable in several respects as pub.
shed, though its main object met cur cordial appro.
val, and We are sorry that 1t should have been suf.
fered to fall into the oblivion and neglect which at.
tend most of ihs resolves of Conventions whether
merited or not.
For years We have been impressed with the con.
vction that the greatest want Of the times in the
Southern Stnies, is series Of well prepared school
books, the product Of Southern intellect and SKILL
Heretofore, the books used In our primary schools
academies and colleges, have been, almost without
exception gotten up by Northern men, and publish
cd by Northern houses. The Northern section Of
the country has enjoyed complete monopoly in
this line as if patent had been granted which
Southern scholars and thinkers dared not infringe.
Whether the child would learn the alphabet of the
English, the grammar of the Greek, scan the verse
of Virgil, master the elements of arithmetic study
the laws of logic whatever the study, the text books
OF the Southern student were prepared by Northern
men and printed by Northern publishers
This entire dependence upon Northern learning,
industry and skill, for all the school books used by
was perfect offeeling and sentiment
between the two sections ofthe country. 1t could only
be viewed tacit confession 10y the South of its
neriority TO the North, Of lis lack either of ability
or industry to produce, and of its willingness to hnve
it's intellect moulded and shaped by mon who are
strangers TO its soil
But, with the antagonism between the North and
South upon subjects intimately connected with the
peace and well being of society, which has existed
from the foundation of the government, the course
which the South has pursued in this il, nothing
less than suicidal. Why wonder then that the defence
Of the patriarcbal institution of the South has been
feeble, when the children mbibed anti.slsvery
sentiments, and false, social philosophy, from their
earliest yeas Their parents learned from school books
gotten up by Northern men, to regard slavery
groat evil social, political ard moral, and the chill
dreni in turn CLEANED the same sentiments from like
suurces and it has gone on, year after year, the
South growing weaker every year, while anti slavery
sentiments became more widespread among all
olassea of the community.
Long ago, SONS men at the South saw how THE
lsaven was working, and attempted 10 do something
to check il. The effort could not succeed then, for
two reasons; first, because not only did the North
furnish all the text books for schools but it fur
nishsd all the teachers too and these teachers, with
all the prejudiss of education would hardly have
adopted books prepared a, the South. even had the
books been offered for their acceptance; aud ,csondy
the educated men Of the South gave themselves go
much concern about political matters that they
had no leisure TO bestow upon so insignificant II
thing books for primary schools and aendemics-
These two causes will readily account for nl the
apathy which has so disgraced and weakened the
South. Her SONS were content that Northern meR
should make school books for the nation, SO long as
they could be Presidents, Senators, Congressmen,
Governors, Cabinet officers and foreign Minister'S
The times have changed, and greatly for the better.
Thank God we have in the South something supe-
rior 10 the Yankee pedagogues of thirty years ago.
The Colleges and Universities Of the South have
given US a corps of teachers born upon Southern
soil educated at Southern schools, familiar with
Southern society, Just the instructors for Southern
boys and girls, aud who are gentlemen ana ladies' IN
the school room and in the parlor. All honor TO the
teachers of the South who contributing 50 largely
to our progress in science and learning
New that .ye have raised up in our midst corps
Of able, efficient and honorable teachers, what nun
ders having school books prepared and published
here at the South There is now market tor such
school books; why, then, shall we not have them -
Can it 10 that there are no educated men Mt the
South who have leisure enough and industry enough
TO do this great work1 Is there teacher or probes
sor in all our southern schools and colleges, familiar
with all the merits and dement's OF the school books
now in use who can give US new series OF spelling
hooks and readers, grammars biographies histories
30 for use in all our schools That there are men
enough who can supply our wants, we DO not Tor n
moment dou hut We somewhat fear their Willingness
to make the effort. dread Of loss will deter some
from making the attempt, who ese might win tame
ond fortune and confer incacuabs benefits upon the
South. We tell such, in all candor that their Tears
are traitors. The Southern scholar WHO snail hrSt
offer to the public Southern series OF books, care
fully prepared, neatly published and adapted 10 the
use Of urinary schools and academies, will make
money, sure AZ "the grass grows or water runs"
And that ia what is chiefly nseded-eIsnentary
hooks for primary schools OF text BOOKS Tor COL
,epe, and Universities there is not so great need
They 90 into the hands of young men whose minus
ara already TO a good e1teut formed and are read
With the aid of the lectures by the Professor, who
.unno,sd 70 he familiar with their contents, and both
.ha o,d ready n noint out what is true and what is
false But, in our primary schoo' boys ana sirs are
taught and it is all important that no DOCK shhl pe
nut into their hands which may give them tase notions
Of science or society. Books prepared at the North
are liable TO the eriiicsm that they give erropeous
views of social philosophy, whether they be books
for admit students or reading books for beginners
Tbev are brinful. too Of a sickly sentimental philan
tbronv. which ia deadly pssOn, and no more TO be
f,rn;shod to the child az its mental pabuum, than
orseuic or strychnius is to be given as the daily
noutishment for the physical system. Inc age WHEN
boys and girls are attending upon our primary
scbools, is lust the period that their minds most
READILY imbbe and most tenaciou'y retain what they
,tudy and therefore, the obligation is hger 10 aiior"
them every opportunity of gaining truth and guarding
them from error.
Who then will begin this much needed work
Somebody must take tho initiative IN this move
r,on, and we are anxious that Firglnlau shall be
,bst someboly. Why may it not be so' Virginia
or,ht ~ land tho South in every undertaking that
,..r,..e n rebound to the honor and glory OF the
So,,hsrn S,aes; and, hitherto she has not been slow
in occupying this proud POSITION WIN ner 'ons "ln
for her the additional triumph OF hrst moving IN 'ns
matter of supplying her own schools ana the schoos
of the other Southern States with suitable DOCKS OF
;n,,ruo,;on7 Time will show! The men for this
entarnrse live in the State and if they continue idle
mnch longer, we may be more specific in our desig-
nation and scolding They have kept this talent bu-
ried onp enough and we insist that they shall dig it
up and put it in circulation. We tru.t they will
take the hint.
THE WEATHER IN THE SOUTH.
For several days the weather. in this city, has been of
the mos, pleasant description Yesterday the thermo'
,aor r.noed about 70 deg, and the sun sbone with