The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-02
DAILY PRESS.
POR1TA ND.
Thursday Morning, January 3 1868.
Uniformity In Textbook
PORTLAND

In republican government which re sta
upon the intelligence and virtue of its inhabi :
tants, education is one of the foundation
stones of the political fabric. Symptoms of
decay cannot be too closely watched or de-
fects too seduously guarded against; lest in
an unguarded moment wher adversely shall
test the firmness of the structure, it shall be
found resting upon a rotten foundation and
ready to crumble and fall.
There are various indications that the sys-
tenn OF education in this State is somewhat be-
hind the times. Some of the defects in our
system are doubtless caused by circumstances
beyond our control and can be remedied only
as time shall alter these circumstances Re-
speetlng other evils we are the victims of our
own negligence. In reforming the latter, the
importance of the subject forbds delay. One
of these is the chaos which reigns in respect
to the textbooks used in our schools.
AS matters now stand school comm ittees IN
the different towns are independent of each
other in the selection of textbooks, and as a
natural consequence there is little Or no con-
cert of action. In some branches each town
has set of textbooks peculiar to itself, and
any agreement is the result of chancs rather
than of design. So long as scholars attend
school only within the limits OF their own
towns, little inconvenience results. But
when scholars in order to attain more ad-
vanced culture, for which in many cases they
find no facilities at home, resort to those high
er institutions which must draw their sup
port from several towns, the inconvenience
becomes serious. Frequently as many differ
ent textbooks are introduced in such a
school as there are different towns represent
ed. Teachers know how vexatious this is
To form as many classes as there are text
books would revive Babel ITSELF Some of the
scholars therefore relinquish studies which
they wish to pursue. In other cases parents
in addition to the expense of sending their
children abroad, must incur the further ex-
pense OF purchasing new books. This to per-
sons in moderate circumstances whose chill
dren need education as much as others and
commonly desire it more, is quite serious
burden. The scholars lose time while the
change is being effected. The new books
though in most cases substantially the same
as the old, are varied sufficiently in arrange
ment and some minor particulars, to make
necessary review Of what the scholar knew
before, only in a different form. Here is an
other item OF time lost while the pupil is get
ting acclimated to the new intellectual atmos-
phere, while in the meantime the bill for
board and tuition is going ON without inter
mission. Is it any wonder that parents are
in many cases obliged to keep their children
at home or curtail the time of their continu-
ance at school, thus depriving them not only
OF those literary advantages which they need,
but ofa benefit hardly less important, though
less appreciated because less susceptible of
computation,- ,-the benefit which results fro m
the intermingling of persons from different
places and of different intellectual habits ?
Something OF this kim is necessary to rub off
the rust that clings to the best formed char.
acter till il is polished by the friction ofsocial
intercourse.
| Ii evils were necessary to the attain
ment of some higher good they might be en-
dured But there seems to be no benefit to
counterbalance these evils. There is no diff
ference between the various communities in
this State sufficient to make one kind of text
book necessary in one section and another in
another. 1t Is not necessary that there should
be one kind of intellectual training in the
1 city and another in the country. There is
indeed less difference between communities
IN this respect than between individuals in
the same community. If therefore the differ
| ences between individuals do not prevent
them from harmonizing in the use of text
books, much less can it be pretended that the
more insignificant differences between com
munities, need prevent general assimilation
In this respect In any one study the road to
knowledge is substantially the same for all
1t IS no dissent from this proposition that
causes so great a diversity of text books.
They are chosen with no particular reference
to the locality in which they are to be used.
They differ simply because the opinions O f
committees differ respecting their abstract
| merits. 7ei -'iHd I'
I Different communities may and indeed
must give unequal degrees Of prominence to
different studies. In the large towns and
cities there may be more perfect classifica-
ton, and more extended subdivision in the
series OF textbooks used. This need not in
terrupt the general harmony. The impor-
tant point is to have the system in each local
ity constructed with reference to the general
plan for the whole State. Our present sys-
tenn tends to keep the State in disiointed
fragmentary condition. A uni form system
would produce higher organic unity. A
uniform system of textbooks is to education
what uniform currency is to commerce.
The consideration of the means of attain
ing this end belongs chiefly to our legisla-
tors, aided by such suggestions as they may
obtain from other quarters. There mustof
necessity be some one body to fix upon the
textbooks for the whole State Their choice
might be aided by advice from the school
committees in the various towns. To enforce
conformity to the general regulations IN COM
munities SO numerous and so widely sepa-
rated as the towns in this State, there is no
way so certain as to appeal to the interests
of those concerned. The intrinsic merits of
the system win be less appreciated, because
the evils OF the present plan. though felt by
all, are not felt at the same time, or in equal
degrees by all. But if towns can be made to
see il for their interest to conform to the
system, it will operate with the pre-
cision Of the sel-executing laws Of
nature. If there were, Tor example, fund,
the proceeds of which should be distributed
to towns only on condition of their conform
ity to the general system, the result might
be reached in that way. ..... .....
When the Importance of the subject is
realized, the ingenuity of our teachers and
superintendents of public instruction will
undoubtedly contriye some machinery for
effecting the object, and the plan which they
suggest may be improved as experience shall
disclose what improvements are required till
the system is brought as near to perfection as
circumstances allow. -
THE SUPREME COURT VACANCY IN MAssA-
CHUsETTs.-The Chief Justice of the Massa-
chusetts Supreme Court having resigned the
question of filling the vacancy is occasioning
considerable speculation. We find the follow
ing statements in the Springfield Republi-
can: gag ..'3 it.lE 'a.
1t is understood that Mr. Henry w. Paine.
the prominent democratic lawyer of Boston,
will not accept q seat upon the supreme court
Neither will ,Judge Curtis nor .Tndpe hhot+