Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-11-24

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Thursday, November 24.
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AT meeting ofthe State Board Of
Education held at the Office of the
Secretary of State, in the city of lndi-
annapolis, in the State of Indiana,
on the 22l day of June, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and ffty-nine.- present his
excellency A. 2. Willard. Gov; Hon.
Cyrus l. Dunham, Sec. Of State; Hon.
Nathaniel Cunningham, Treasurer of
State; and Samuel L. Rugg, Supt. of
Public instruction.
After discussion and consultation on
the subject of text books for the use OF
schools, the following resolution, in
troduced by Gov. Willard, was adopt
ed, to wit:
Resolved, That in addition to the
text books in reading, heretofore rec
commended by the State Board of Ed
ucation. we now recommend Chllds'
First Book. an illustrated primer by
Goodrich. Goodrich's new lst, u, 3d,
4th. 5th. and 9Th Readers. revised by
Noble Butler, as a series Of text books
of superior merit for instruction in the
art or reading. In recommending the
introduction cf this series of books
into the schools of the State, we do
not recommend that the Indiana series
Of readers. where now in use. shall be
laid aside; but where new books are to
be purchased, we recommend the new
editions of Goodrich's series as prefer
able.
\ bove we present you the resolu-
ton by which Goodrich's readerp are
said to be recommended by th&State
Board of Education. In an article
upon this subject some time ago, we
showed that Cox. Willard, in this ac-
ton of his, transcended his authority
as an ex-oilicio member Of the Board
of Education. We are exceedingly
glad to hear from almost all parts o
The State that this unwapantahle ac'
ton of the Board is being disregarded
We have in our schools in Indiana !
good series OF books which have beer
bought and paid for by those wh'
send to school. This was don
at heavy cxpense-in most place
Sanders's series Of books were sup
planted by McGui!ey's. the bool
now in use. You will all bear teSti
mony to the confusion that thi
change produced throughout the State
Parents and srhool-men compliance
heavily. as they were justified in do
ing, at this heavy expenSc-and a goo
many would not buy the new books
which caused great trouble and dis
turhance'in the school, making it i'm
possible for teachers to do Justice t
their students or 10 give satisfaction t
their employers. Since that thes
books have been recommended by tw
successive State Boards and almos
universally introduced into our school:
McGutfey's books have been recon
mended by large majority of th
prominent teachers of tlsc State as til
best books and as being we'll adapte
to the schools of Indiana. We fe,
, confident that the people of Indiana d
not desire to encounter again this Wa
Z oil school books. Beside this there
an item of expense that inevitahl
follows the change of books th'
cuousU HOt Ut OFclloOAtI.
According to the last report the
were 6.I31 children in this count
over five and under twenty-one yea
: OF age. New school books can not
supplied to these children a. less thi
an average cost of one dollar each.-
:. Here, then. Won have a pretty III
item of sirfy-scven hundred dollars al
upwards as the Legitimate result OF til
j. change of school books.
Parents and educators of Randoll
County. what are you going to do
this matter? There will doubtless
.e hired agents in the employment
Messrs. Morton d. Griswold, the pu
fishers of Goodrich's series, who W
call upon teachers and offer great
ducements to them in the way Of pro
'ents of books. etc, in order to ha
their books introduced. These pa
y agents, as general rule, will spare
pains. by using willful misrepresen'
=. tion and Offering bribes, to secure tn
i. object. Beware of them. for wheneS
you submit to this innovation YOU "
10 unfairly levy heavy tax upon vol
= selves.
There are numerous objections
Goodrich's series of books, one
:. which Is. with less amount of mat
than McGuffey's books. they are
per cent. higher. We shall have m
: to say about this matter and otl
things in connection with these boo
- ne<f uoof-