Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-11-08
1CONNCNICAEEn.l
zhs Public Schools and School Books

for lack OF economy IN classification. There |
was standard, however, in regard to Readers, /
but pew edition had come out, SO different |
from the old, that they rould not be used to.
gether. This rendered it necessary to change |
the readers also, either for the New Edition,
or for New Series, We cSSn7fncd the
different books carefully, side by side, and Sc
lected those which We considered the best
which we still think the cst,-which NC think
able to stand under the most rigid examina-
tion.
But there was difficulty in establishing
the required standard books of any sort, on
account of the expense of purchasing the
new books which would be necessary, no mat
Ter what standard we should adopt. This was
obviated entirely by requiring the publishers
of the books selected to exchange them for
all the old ones of any sort achich lrere diSpla-
ced. They did more. They furnished the new
books at about half price, to the pupils that
had no old books to exchange, and who would
otherwise have been under the necessity of
buying new books of some sort at full price
There was thus great saving of money, be-
sides receiving very many new books, CT better
quality, for old and soiled ones. This trade
was not effected by adopting such books only
as could be obtained in this way, but we our
selves selected such as we chose, and offered
the terms on which they could be introdu-
ced.
This is the substance OF tho whole affair
1t is right that the public should know the
simple truth and the statement is demanded
now, because our action has been publicly at
tackled, and most wofuly misrepresented.
The attack has been made throught the col
uans of the Standard We replied to it in
the same paper, by explaining ouI action Ia as
fair and candid manner as we were able
But our communication has been treated so
shabbiIy, that We can go there with no more
explanations We refer to the Standard Of
last week. as evidence in point. Our duty to
the public, however, requires answer to
some OF those aspersions, because the public
welfare is involved in the matter under consid-
Grafton. This is why We apply to the Gazette.
But VIC have no controversy with the Editor
himself, of the Standard. He evidently did
not write those things to which VIC are CON-
PEELED to reply. The style is not his, and his
mind does not run into such strange pervcr-
sions. We do not mean him personally, there
Fore as we proceed to expose a few of those
vile things; but VIC mean the man that he has
unfortunately permitted to creep under his
wing. Let Us proceed,
There are two insnuations TO the effect that
we did not speak the truth in our explana-
,ion.
First We said to him, you substantially
admit also, that McGuffey is a secessionist. y.
Now, we had proved by two witnesses that he
was such, and oar ussaiant had simply said in
reply, We lrH not defend McGuffey as u se-
| ccssiouist, but he would defend his books as
| being the best,' &c. How much does that lack
OF being substantial admission? w as it not
at least Sufficient ground for US to arrive hon
cstly at the opinion we expressed?
| The Saeosad insnuation Of our untruthfulness,
] is with regard to any former time where the
/ school books had been changed. We had con-
veyed the idea that changes had been rare, If
at all, by saying that the present board did not
remember Ehen, and by asking if the oldest IA
! hoJitant could point to the time. This is all.
Our aceuser repIiesg that the intermediate in
termediate inhabitants can tell" Suppose
they CAM Who said they could not? Who
has said there has been qo change? And this
is the ground 81 his charge? Has he no better
weapons Ior warfare?
But what is the meaning Of the following
insinuation? What becomes of that dime
for each Geography? Into whose pocket does
that go?" This is thrown in, like the snap
ping of a cur, between our sentence5.- If he
intends TO charge any one with the dishonest
use of money, let him come out and say so,
that he may be met as he deserves. The
Board certainly gets no moRey at all in this
matter, although they get some abuse.
| The remarks on our exchange OF books now
need little attention Ii is said: 4" Nobody
called for the dicker' except the Publishers or
their employees This is just opposite to the
truth. The Board called for the trade, as the
absolute condition on which the books could
be introduced And the agent of the A1cGuf-
fey series of Readers was just as ready 10 ex-
change his new edition for the old, as the agent
OF Goodrich was 10 exchange his.
Again We spoke of the confusion Of text
books in our schools, as evidence that there
were no well established standards; and We
confirmed this further by stating that the old
est teachers and scholars could not tell us
which of the many varieties were the stand
ards. And we are accused, amidst an ecstacy
of epithets, of 4" calling on the children to de-
eide which were the lest" Did he not know
that this vas glaring perrersion2 or did he
suppose the people were all too stupid to see
il? We said nothing about asking them which
were the best. We said they did not appear
TO know which were the standards in school
This might be called quibbLing, if it did not
deserve worse name.
Yet again " In order to compel them (thC
! pupils) to obey the beck and nod of theil
superiors, they were threatened with expulsion
from the school ROOM" If this refers TO tie
trading of books, it is false; if to insuburdi-
nation in school, it is true. Make the most
of it
Still again No merit is claimed for the
Goodrich series, other than that there musi be
new books purchased, and they wanted to drive
a sharp bargain in. order to save money for
the parents of the children" Now, we have
said, These books were introduced after &
careful and protracted examination OF iheil
merits us compared with McGufIey's They
were considered better in their arrangement
grading, and even their style of matter" lie
had quoted part Of this language, showing
that he had observed i. 1t might be interest
ing to compare this fact with his statement
and debate whether he knew that he was telling
a thing, or not
Yet once again: Knowing as the Boart
does that the Goodrich Readers have no mer
its, they are trying to create sympathy ant
make capital by crying out that somebody
says their Louisville publisher is sceessionis.'
Really This charge of secession was con-
tained in the extract copied by the Standard
from the Springfield Netrs, and was the very
beginning of this controversy. 1t was the first
thing we had to meet. And we not only pro
we'd it false, but proved that even the Compiler
of the McGufey Readers is, and has been, .
secession traitor And now the charge is that