The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-12-26


Superintendent, and that are being intro
duced into our district schools by Mr.. Mil
Ter. There is always great deal of grum-
bling when a new book is introduced. "Its
all foolishness to change SO often,'' Every
new man must get up something new"
How much books do COST can't afford
it, are some of the ordinations upon the
recommendation of change in books. And
there has been some ground for such com
plants. Already we have had recommend
ed to us several different books by different
Superintendent. And in our poverty, with
such heavy taxes. it il no small matter for
parents, perhaps a widowed mother. to pro-
vide the necessary books. Yet most pa
rents are willing to make great efforts 10
provide them when convinced themselves
that such books are necessary
But what are the books before us? Nv
limits will not permit review of the series,
or even of single one of the SERIES We
are flooded with school books, each having
its own peculiarities, excellencies, and de-
fects. and each having its own friends to
extol its worth. Mr.. Wilson. in his series.
has started on a new and, I think. quite
original basis. He evidently regards the
brain as very large receptacle designed to
be crammed and stuffed with all the facts of
creation. He is evidently utilitarian, in
PRODUCING plate of Mathematics for break
fast on Monday morning. Chemistry for
dinner, and Physiology for supper. Tues
day comes with variations of Natural Phi
losophy and Botany, followed by an indefi-
mite number of ologies under the general
term Natural History. Thus the week is
filed up with variety, to be followed bv
another order the following week. until the
whole circle of science is completed One
can scarcely restrain smile in reading the
outline plan of subjects of the different
readers, and then to think boy or girl
might easily read them all through by the
time they were fourteen or fifteen years old,
and then to think how knowing such spe-
cimens of juvenile savants may be. They
can talk to you of Botany, of Physiology.
ORTHODOXY. Herpetnlogy, Ichthyology. Of
Geology, Natural Philosophy. Ancient His
tory, Sacred History. Physical Geography.
Astronomy, Mental Philosophy. Moral
Philosophy. Natural Theology. Mineralogy,
Rhetoric, Criticism, Taste, Oretory. Logic.
Civil Architecture, Sculpture, Painting,
Music. Poetry &c. Will there not be dan
ger of brain explosions with so much know
ledge pressed into such narrow compass.
However falacious may be the foundation
upon which our author has based his books,
as related to sound principles o education.
ably adapted TO accomplish much good to
the interests of education in Kansas. They
constitute a very valuable Cyclopedia of
useful knowledge. The attractive style
with which they are prepared will cause
them 10 be read in almost every family.
Almost every one will learn something new,
and most will find multitude of facts hilh-
erto unknown to them. Many young minds I
will be uuickened and led forward with a
keen relish to study. The books NAV be
as he4lthful stimulant peculiarly
adapted to the present time and to our pc
ruliar circumstances. Regarding these
books stristly as reading books, it seems to
me that they are open to very grave objec-
lions. and particularly in regard to the vari,
-iefy Of selection. In looking over the list
# au thors in the Fifth Reader find but
cry few American names excepting among
he poets. A book put into the hands of
American youth at period when they be-
in to feel an interest in their country
hould contoin selections suited to cultivate
atriotism: there soould be selections tend
NC to bring out strong manly nsture. In
he old school books We find something
bout Washington. his Farewell Address;
omething from the great expounder of the
Constitution about the union of these States:
bout the Declaration of Independence.
here was patriotic ring about them from
7hich many boy caught the inspiration
7hich is now nerying him to deeds of dar- :
ng for his country. In these particulars !
bese books are an utter failure. So intent
J Mr., Wilson on pouring knowledge into :
he minds of his readers that he seems to
orget that he has country. or has any in
crest in his Government. The books con
ain very little that il distinctively Aneri-
an. Mr. Wilson closes his preface to the
fifth Reader, dated New York. MAJ Is II
Sol. Just after the fall of Sumter and the
1urder of our soldiers in Baltimore, when
he whole North was reused to vindicate
heir honor and rescue our Government y
rom destruction by parracides. with these IA