Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-07-09

En;rc.royAI Co:vssssox--51 Ie1AHv oQn1Ai
-CouxoS ScaoolsETaxr B6dkGEA npo1 Vas
made to the Newborn c6nveation by kes. @ Wiley,
that the Journal Of Education published By the AZ
sociation at Greensboro must Be failure. unless
more efficiently aided a Committee was appointed
to devise plan for its success and report tn the
Convention. If we could have been present, We
should have suggested change in its plan. Instead
of monthly pamphlet We would have suggested
weekly. in newspaper form and urged that IT. CON-
duct be adapted not only to the tastes Of litcra
nv men and educators. but to the masses upon
whose enghtment and cooperation, the success of
our Common School system must mostly depsnd--
A cheap weekly, thrown broadcast over the State.
setting forth the benefits and practical operation of
our Common School system, would accomplish won.
ders. The peopls need light on the subject:
It was q good suggestion Of Rev. j. II. Brent, Of
Newbern. to initiate plan by which the Common
Schools of the State should be equally and autlor'-
tatyelv represented in the annual meetings OF the
Convention. Perhaps the only feasible plan would
be to authorize the Superintendcnts Of Common
Schools in each County, to appoint suitable man
and an alternate to represent the common school
interest of each County in the State in the Convcn-
ton, who should be furnished with all the iniorma-
ton both statistical and suggestive, by the Hoard
necessary to make up full exhibit Of the condition,
wants and prospects Of Common Schools throughout
the State.
rs yet tne proceedings OF NeuueSu"Ss July s'~'S
come to hand but We Doubt if any subject has been
brought before the Convention at its late session. Of
greater importance to the cause Of education IN
North, Carolina than the introduced by our con-
temporary Of the Beaufort Journal Stephen d. pool.
Esq We allude to his proposition to sec ,rc uni.
formity in the Of teri 6ooIs in oil the different
grades of schools in North Carolina. Mr.. Pool Is
practical teacher and hal and felt the want Of
uniformity on this subject and We were surprised to
find practical teachers oposing it.
Perhaps there is no one cause which operates
more periodically to the interests Of education, than
the frequent change Of text books and the employ.
ment Of bad or worthless ones. Three fourths Of
the school books in vogue, arc unsuitable rs text
books They seem to be designed as helps TO 'each'
instead Of students-a sort Of iahor-savins ma
| chimes, which encourage the teacher to keep hrs
mouth shut and to render as they suppose. lectures
| on the part Of the teachers unnecessary. S'ho"l
Books filled M with questions and explanatory notes
signed helps to students serve the double bad
purpose Of lcssening the labor Of the teacher. and
| preventing students from thinking. Now to our
mind, no system Of questions or explanatory notes
can he beneficial when It relieves the teacher from
personal and practical Illustration. No book can hs
made to do the work efficiently Of the living active
teacher
| The employment Of unsuitable text books or frc'
qucnt changes from bad to but little better, works
mischevouSly in various ways. First, II is source
Of expense to parents and guardians, which in five
or ten years becomes u serious matter. Secondly,
it rctars the progress o: the student who must gc'
the lang Of every new book, before he begins "a
profit by it. Thirdly it Is waste of time. adding
nearly third or fourth to the time which would bs
necessarily employed in passing through the usual
course Of study.
We are glad the proposition succeeded. but We
are inclined to think a large committee ought Il
have been appointed, Or at least sub-committrt
composed Of fifteen practical teachers. to report Il
the committee. woul,, secure the object better W,
shall have occasion to alluc to the ,:oings Of tn,
Convention hereafter Hash. Dispatch.