The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-12-02
EnuGatiuna4.
RppeEt Of G0Gimiftee ON Text
Pc TpoQsGS,

REn lcIRFiL OF teD. 70, 1898
We have here inserted the books reg
Ommcndcd at that time, aud, also other
books in the English branches.
After . careful, and We hope impartial
examination of many works, we have de-
eided to recommend the following:
SANDEnS' NEW SPELLER DEFINER and
SANDERS NEW SERIES of READERS
STOOD ARDS JUVENILE MENTAL
ARITHMETIC.
sTpppARGs s INTELLECTUAL ARTTH-
NETlG.
Scr exercises on slate and blackboard,
DAVIES NEW ARITHMETIC.
MONTEITH'S and McNALLY'S SERIES of
BIOGRAPHIES. This Series contains sew
eral numbers, from which we have selected
NusTETH'& MANUAL of GEOGRAPHY and
HcSALLY'S EQMeLEVE SDH1QL GEO
GRAPHY
O'pQNNELL'S SYSTEM of PENMANSHIP,
8 Nos.
YIELDS NEW ENGLISH GRAMMAR.
We live in an age Of books. School
books have received their full share of at
tentlon from the would bc-good authors,
q. well as the truly meritorious.
SggE the multiplicity, We have select
Ell those which to US seemed best, decld-
ins as far as wescould and not recommend
inferior works, in favor Of those already
III use, and We sincerely hope our report
IS worthy the approval of Directors. Not
withstanding the move that has been
made in our county in this matter, we find
many who question the propriety, and
some who even oppose the establishment
of pHifQrlpity Of text books. Their
reasons for this are mainly the following:
!. On account of the great variety now
existing, heavy expense would be in
surred
2. 1t is feared the best books would not
Be selected, and the schools thus neces-
slated TO use inferior ones
=. New books are constantly being pub
iished as Improvements on those before
in use, and should a uniformity be adopt
ed, there could be no benefit derived from
these improvements however great they
might be.
In consideration of the first reason, we
would say, that although it is difficult
making accurate figures on thiS subject,
yet we believe that tie constant chang
ing to which schools are now subjected.
amounts to more in four years, and occa-
sons a heavier expense in that time than
would be incurred should a uniformity
be adopted, even though an entire change
Tere at first made. If this is so, then
why not as we'll at the end of that time
have our object accomplished, aud no in
crease Of expense, as to have just nothing
at an done and the present undesirable
state of aIairs continued?
AS for the second reason, Ee think no
serious trouble need be anticipated yhile
Directors have the power to change at
their pleasure, and have the benefit of the
judgment Of an enlightened public on the
Aq4As.
In reference to the third reason, we
would say that the Improvement in text
books is many times more in the imagin-
alton Of the friends of the work, than in
she work itself. Yet improvements are
made, aud when they appear, and are
known and acknowledged as such, let
Directors make the change at once, and
not teachers.
As We have given short discussion to
the reasons for not adopting uniformity
of text books, We will give some Of the
se4ssoas tt2r fqing this.
]. A great pernexlty TO which Book
Dealers, Book Buyers, Parents, TEACHERS
and Pupils are now subjected, Roql& be
avoided.
Parents who are willing to bay ali the
books that are needed by their Children,
are many times at loss to know what
books to get, and perhaps are 10th to get
any, for should they procure good sup
ply they have no surety that they will be
used more than one term.
.. When different books are in school,
the teacher is obliged to spend time very
disadvantageously on account of the great
Almber of classes which must be formed
1t is fact, for the support of which we
appeal to every successful teacher, that Il
class of 10 pupils will advance So far in a
term, as class of ? pupils will, allowing
the same time to recitation.
Che teacher, on entering school, finds
= variety Of books, and compromises the
matter as best he can, in forming differ
ent classes and is, perhaps, obliged to al
low some classes with only ope pupil
But the evil does not stop here. Differ
ent degrees of advancement soon demand
n change; some scholars wish to enter
higher classes aud some lower ones. per-
haps variety Of books prevents this. and
classification must be given up. When
this is doue, when classification is given
up, the school might just as well be given
up. for without it any great success Is