Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-15
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series OF McGufey's readers was adopted for use
in the schools of the city after the close of the
present school year.
AS member of the Committee to whom was
referred the proposition OF W. b. Smith Il Co.
for substituting McGuiiey's new Electc series OF |
Readers for the books now in use, | would sub
init the following, recommending different |
course Of action from that just presented. Be |
cause one Of our rules compels all changes in text
books to be made at the commencement Of the |
Fall term OF each year. and the question becomes |
shall we continue the use OF the present books for
another year. These books after the word method |
primer, originated by our worthy Superutend.
eut and found so excellent that all the modern |
seres-inoluding the Webb, the Hillard and the |
McGufey Incorporated It, are the lst, I'd, !
and Sd Primaries Of the Webb series, Of which l
shall say little, since they seemed TO have proved
a complete failure. All the teachers using them
being urgent for change, not single one, far
as have heard feeling Indifferent this point.
Some teachers recommending no particular series,
but simply asking for change, feeling that none
can be made except for the better
| The remaining books used are of the Hillard
series. The LIST Glass Book does credit to Mr..
! Hillard as a scholar and lawyer and deserves
| place In every library; il is not surpassed as q
text book. Our High School, however seems for
/ some reason, TO prefer Shakespeare, Milton, and
| other English classics, to the compilation Of any
man, and the first Glass Book is as "a consequence,
little used, except as a substitute for the Second
in the Grammar Schools. This Second Book
lacks in dialogue and comic pieces, so that the in
terest of the class in the reading exercises depends
entirely upon the efforts Of the teacher.
Next we have the Sd aud 4th Books, which are
very Objectionable as class books.
lst Because they are graded too high, being
entirely beyond the reach of children of from TO
IL years, who comprise our intermediate schools.
The Third Book being, it anything, graded low
est .....
ID. They have no marks OF acoeutation, each
teacher using her own Judgment and every new
teacher wasting much time in uprooting what her
predecessor inculcated after great labor aud
painstakng. All series of readers should have
some system of accent marks in the intermediate
grades, and nearly all the best ones have, incud.
ing those published in New York and Boston,
among the latter the Sanders Series recommend.
ed by State Superintendent of Instruction for IL.
hnois aud used in the Public Schools Of Chicago
and the State,
3D. They contain neither lists OF words defined
nor spelling exercises and the teacher after post
ing every new word upon the board, (no slight
task y fluids her class hesitating before each long
d word, thus acquiring q hesitating manner, and
one not easily corrected afterwards
In this series the lawyer has substituted the ar.
gumentatye piece for the usual dialogue, TO the
no little inconvenience of both teacher and taught.
e In fact, the Hilard Readers cannot be used TO
c advantage West of NclC England unless AL the
teachers are perfect readers aud possessed of in
l domitabe perseverance, until many important
b changes are made in them.
Boys are yet boys as they were in our schooldays
and need something more than words to interest
e them in study and make good readers Whether
10 for this reason, or for some other cause, these
books are not the adopted series Of Readers in the
Juvenile Schools OF any large city OF either New
&C York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois
y Wisconsin and Iowa, or Ohio, II may except
Z Cleveland When introduced, the books at fr-
blush prepOsessed many OF our teac hers hut after
years use they are found not as well fitted for text
books as had been hoped, and they are for {
change.
9 The Minority of the Committee recommend tha
10 the proposition of w Smith n Co be accepted, 4
90 into effect at the commencement OF the Fal
\ Term
, Because the new Eleclic Series are iautless il
gradation, apparently made TO order for our sys
TEN in this respect fitted with every assistance t.
both teacher aud scholar including lists Of words o
defined exercises in pronunciation, the dncul
words of each lesson collected for spelling in thrc
books The intermediate books also have th
words of more than two syllables divided into syI
OF ables which is indispensable where so many GcT
ar man children are TO be taught TO read English a
e. here, and rood for ALL Aud they have a unOrT
to system of accent marks, which takes the schoa
or to the Grammar School, and leaves him with cor
rect eye and ear to his Judgment when from ten
fifteen years Of age Published in 1887 thoy NJ
io furished with every improvement, including IN
lard'S system OF Biographical Sketches oil Al
IL thors.
WThcn they are the productions Of Wesier
teacher, and are found well adapted to our you'll
as is shown by the certificate OF AnsOn bmytt
sl State Superintendent of Instruction. and prove
. by their use in the city schools of Cincinnati
p Dayton, Toledo, Sandusy, Columbus and Hant
vile; their recent intrOduotOns into tWent
schools Of Lake county, In some Of which Iii
- lard's had been used, and their universal popu
lariiy throught the West. And what appear
20 me Of more Importance, three eiourths of a
our teachers desire 10 use them, although som
doubt the expediency of changing books at pre-
ent. And our Superintendent (Mr. Freese) col
q sidered the new MCGuhey Series, as much bette
adapted to teaching reading than either of thos
now in use unless materially changed,
All Of which is respectfully submitted
N. p. PAYNE,
Minority of 4. b. Com.
Messrs. Pratt and Hayes gave their reasons iC
supporting the McGuficy series.
Mr.. Fogg moved as an amendment that McGu
iey's ID and Sd book be substituted for Webb
which are now in use. He thought this cOmprI
misc would be satisfactory.
Amer long discussion the amendment was 10
by the following vote
AYEs-Messrs. Bradburn, Thomo, Payne au
Fogg.
NAYs-Messs. Maynard, Pratt, Hayes, Rees
n Vaughn, Stanley
Mr. Pratt then moved that the entire series
MeGuney's Readers be adopted, leaving it option
with the teachers whether they'use the highe
book of MoGuGeys or Hrlard's Series AdOpt'
by the following vote;
AYEs-Messrs Hayes, Pratt, Stanley, Waugh
Reese Payne, Maynard
NAYs-Messrs. Bradburn, Ihome and Fogg.
At the commencement Of the next Term the n
OF Guhey Readers will therefore be substituted {
the Hlliard series It il understood that Il
new books will be given in exchange for the o
Ones thus creating no additional expense to Il
sholas
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