Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-10-01
The Grade and Billard. sixth
Reader.

Burlington Dali Fr,e Press ,l ,bs S,l
ult,, long and ahor,d ..rlile nnrror,.
ing TO he efillc',m NJ Town and Hol.
brooks Progressly' F.nh Reader. II &c,
CURED 70 Us, while reading il, that the
writer had .ot given The article an appro-
pirate t.tle that he had other ends "a
serve, under tue prsiense OF review o.
Tins Reader. lie certainly does not stick
TO his text much better than some preach
ers, who name their subject at the begin.
nlng OF their discourse, aud again near the
close, the main body OF il being on sub,
lecls entirely foreign 10 the one proposed
as the basis Of their remarks.
| Perchsnce the critic belongs 10 that un-
fortunate class OF public speakers, and i.
unable TO break AWAY from fixed habits
under any circumstances. Ifnot, then be
must take the other horn Of the dilemma,
and plead guilty Of deliberate aitenp'
to revive the lost cause Of the late Seere-
tary Of the Board Of Education, TO bring
discredlt upon the Board, and 10 destroy
confidence IN the authorized hist Of text
books, with the exception Of one which is
merely an appeaddgs to the list, but eyi.
IDENTIFY his special iayorite.
The publisher Of the Progressive Read,
er is also treated with similar dlscour,esy
and for similar purpose. But neither
the State Board, nor the publisher Of the
Progressive series, will suffer from any
such ungenerous attacks from diSappoiat-
81 dSpHdgiS Tor u connection with the
Board, or from others. All law abiding
citizens, the friends Of good order, and
those having the hes, interests of our pub
he schools at heart throughout the State.
Will take care OF them; for the acts Of
each were performed IN the most open
manner possible, and will bear the closest
and sever'st scrutiny OF the public. II
any Que doubts th,S, let him read the Snp-
Elemental Report OF the Board, published
IN November, 1867, and take the testi.
mony Of about 1000 leading teachers and
friends Of education IN all parts Of the
State, who were glad Of the opportunity
TO place their names ON a petition asking
for the readoption of the Progressive Sc.
ries.
Now, It the critics object was simply
TO give fair and candid criticism of the
Progressive Filth Reader, why should he
make this unproyoked and unscrupulous
attack upon these gentlemen 1t is with
the book alone a fair and candid critic has
to do, not with the publisher, nor the
State Board who have gwen reasons
which can not he coutroverled, why they
prefer the Progressive Reader TO the one
whose cause the critic has espoused so
warmly, His reference 10 Sargent's and
Wilson's Readers was, doubtless, to give
"a show of fairness; but his prejudice
against the Progressive and his partiallty
for llillard's Sixth are zone the less APP.
parent. Another evidence If the critics
Partially is the Worces,erian orthographv
OF one or two words. Is il possible that
the Bostonlsn mantle Of Mr. Kellogg, late
OF Middlebury, has fallen upon HIM So
much for the aaiau, of the critic.
We will now give few specimens If
the critics own "choice and classica, Eng
lish.'
He says; at (the Progressive Fifth
READER e1yoyS a very extensive circula-
ton and use.n We presume It ENJOYS the
critics failure to conceal the real object OF
his pretended criticism.
He continues; " If any one wishes to
know the things said in It's favor, We re-
spectfuIly refer them to the fy ieares of
any volume in the series. They will, " etc,
This specimen Of "cholce English seems
to be'a favorite with the critic for we find
it repeated. And ny iearfs should be
compounded thus, fy-ieaces.
Again: I'VE have eaquired the opn-
ions, etc, and do not now remember one
who waS suited with it," If he had in
CURED the opinions, etc, he would proba.
bly, have received an aGrmatirc reply,
and in the present tense
4" One town superintendent Aaf his in
diguation stirred by this attempt etc,
sand coadenu$ it. Has the critic for
gotten his lessons in SyutaX
"When they (the Progressive books)
coald hot be obtained, y etc And again,
"rhey co3i not lie said to he fairly in
the market We submit that they can
be obtained, and on bettef terms than any
other series eXtant. lhey c4H, therefore,
be sad TO be iairly IN the market. Is the
critic man Of The past rather than the
p"seHtf
What does the critic mean by " arerage
district schools ~.
Once more . 1t is grave question IN
any school whether It Is advisable to try
to convey Knowledge OF halt dozen
sciences IN lew reading lessons. But in
schools ritz property q#atBsd teachers We
do not think 1t Is a question II the CRITIC
sees no contradiction IN these two state.
ments, his reader, can, to say nothing of
the propreiy Of separating them with
period,
T.