Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-09-26
School Literature.

1ecIS. we propose 10 make some sugges- Q
tons as to the proper remedy. on
And first, North Carolina and the South, IT
need a standard and more permanent class re
of text books, for her Schools and Colleges. u
The business Of editing and publishing school a
books, has been almost entirely m~onopolized u
by the North. Mammoth publishing houses u
have grown mp under the influence of South g
ern patronage, and they in turn have crea- u
ted a morbid demand for new books, which II
are generally made up of old ideas re-yamp- c
ed, with a few new ones, more pernicious :
than the old, to set them off. What has been =
the consequence p Change, change, has be- {
come the order of the day, until almost eve .
ry new teacher, if not every new session OF
our schools, has become a note of warning :
to parents and guardians for new books :
The old, half studied and poorly mastered,
nave been laid aside, and students are often
introduced into the same class of studies,
with a new book, whose new nomenclature,
renders ths labor Of study about as difficult
to master, as if the branch of study were
entirely new. The mind of tie student be-
comes hampered-his slow progress serious
~ discourages him, and the thought that he
is to pled on in this way for years, leads him
to deliberate favorably OF the propriety Of
stopping school. Frequent changes of tea
cheers and Of school books, thus seriously re
tard the business of education; years are
consumed in what should only employ months
10 oocaraplch onrrurauc aynancac corraf
late upon US cur children leave school UNI
educated, and poorly prepared to engage in
the business Of life; or what rs equally bad,
the few who by patient industry wade through
the large mass Of useless lumber now found
IN our school books, are broken in c~oRstitu-
ton, and soon find a premature grave. Nor
is the enormous addition made TO the expen-
ses of education by the frequent change of
books, an item of small consideration.
Secondly, the South needs not so much a
Southern school literature, as it does a thor
ough, truthful, honest and uniform one
Nothing is more Important to our youth, than
J, a full, fair and honest presentation of facts
: and principles No school book should be
: filed with improbable s~toriesy astounding
: Developments, or one sided views Of any
: thing. I. Is not desirable that our children
I should be impressed unfairly with partia
{ views Of Southern customs, habits or insti
: tutions Mach less should they be mdoc
3 trinated with prejudicial convictions or sen
r timents Of the North or any other portion o
the world Naked truth without a gloss, i
e what we and our children want, either as t
d the facts OF systems Of principles taught
e even though the truth is not always seeml,
D. and pleasant Of the very FIST imporsanc
If also, is it necessary, il It be possible to oh
ID tain it, that cur school literature should b
is uniform and systematic The same tex
,e books and she same system of instructio
u should be made a settled and established reg
S. ~ulation in every primary school IN the Stats
s. The same should be the case in every Acads
re- my, Seminary, High School and College i
es the State, rising with a regular and uniforr
graduation from the lowest to the highest
ar this were so, no injury could arise from tn
Ct necessary change of teachers or the transfe
yh of a student from one school to another
"a And what an immense saving of time an
= money would this be- Think upon II.
or Thirdly, all school books should be entir
in ly free from all s~ectarian or party pc litic
ry bias. But in saying this, we do not mea
that sound morals and true religion shouI
of not be iDculcated in school books. Far fro
I'VE it. These are the great conseryatOrs Of h
man society ; and hence we think the Bib
On should be read and studied, the naked tie
,rk we mean, in all our schools. Nor shou
be politics be ignored in our higher schools
truthful, honest and sound text book up,
out the science Of government and politics, wi
fe- a history Of the principles and measures
md every political party which has existed
ned this country and in the leading States of Z
rope to the present day, would be a mt
OF valuable addition to the school lteratr
yea of the country.
nu- But how is all this to be donet Wethi
we as difficult q task as at first view it may Sc
to be, that it can be accomplished. It
ieu- strictly and properly, the work Of the st
'Nh' governments. And we should reIoics
=" North Carolina should take the lead in t
matter. We would specially cali the att
ans ton of our Legislators before the next Ger
:" al Assembly to this important subject.
Let a law be passed, giving encouragcm
'eiy to the un dertaking, offering the very ST.
~ gest inducements in the way of premi,
ossi- ).
male
: &c duce the very best text book on any an'
y W "
all branches of study, from the lowest to
sno highest, taught in private schools, acader
Tho and Colleges. Let it be understood
e. these may be original works Or compilat
the from the best works now in existence.
evoid the afoi'fa.ofs DC seiecseo rom among
.fter practical teachers of the State, from sey
arks sects and political parties, who shall be
n;cal for their services, and who shall be cha
and to make their awards under such rules
oma restrictions as will secure the most thort
Ivan and impartial decision, and let their re
y. as be subject to the approval of a strong {
It be mittee appointed by the Legislature;
ne ac- should be empowered to purchase the C
Imple right Oh the works thus selected Tor the )
night and who Snail make agreements for the
$ are LEGATION and sale of the best text books
with the State. This would at once give the