The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-09-29
school books for ourChiIdren.

( Ifthere is truth in the utterance of the poet
/ that ''the child is father to the man." then it
is certainly of the greatest importance that
the training of the child shall be suck as to
| develop his best and noblest qualities. In
other words, the kind OF education which
our children receive is largely to determine
the kicd Of men and women they are TO be-
come. In this matter no question is so i'm
portanr as the character of the textbooks
from which they are instructed. Ii these
books are prejudlced and unfair if the facts
of history are misrepresented; if undue
prominence is given TO ether parts of the
country, then our children will grow up
with false impressions and perverted ideas.
Whether Intentionally so or not, the fact
remeins that Northern school-books are al
most without exception. unfair and preju-
diced in their treatment of the South, its
people and institutions. In some cases this
is purposely so, while at other times il is
only the natural result of the Northern ed
ucation of the authors of the books; they
have been so taught, and never having lived
among our people do not know us. But in
either case our children are wrongly taught
when such books are used-a Northern
spirit of antagonism and detraction prevades
them generally. Such facts of history as the
formation of our government, Missouri
Compromise, &c, are totally perverted, and
even the character of the founders of our
States is most abusively maligned. And
when the history of the late war is attempt
ed, ''rebels' is the mildest term applied to
US, almost every battle results in North
ern victory, and all our purposes and de-
signs receive the grossest misrepresenta-
ton. Even in some OF the Arithmetic ex-
amples," the most unlikely of places, the
scholar is asked to calculate the number OF
rebels" killed in such and such a battle
the strength of the 'rebel'' armies, &c. &c.
Can our children be permitted to make use
of such textbooks as these? Why, such
Misrepresentation and falsehoods are a
crime against the nation; aud their tenden- |
cy is not towards peace and good will, but |
to produce strife and bloodshed. Can wei
permit our children TO be taught that their
farthers were rebels and traitors? The |
question answers itself
We have been led to these remarks by an
examination of many Northern school
books, and comparison of them with the |
admirable university Series of text !
books, prepared by several of our most emil |
nent and beloved Southern instructors. and |
published by the university Publishing |
Here are presented to US at last series of |
books which are non-partisan and unsec- |
tional. No strife and ili-wilI can be found |
in their pages and no word of detraction of |
any part of our country, or its people is |
permitted. The facts of history are impair
tally stated, the latest discoveries of science |
are incorporated, and all the most approved /
of instruction are employed.
When we add that the books are written |
by such men as Commodore n. f. Maury, |
whose fame has crossed every sea; and Pro-
lessons Chas. S. Venable, and George S. |
and Schele DeVere, and Basil l.. !
of the University of Virginia.
and the brothers LeConte and Sachtleben of |
the University of South Carolina, and 9TH
ers of equal eminence as instructors, who
themselves graduated with highest honors |
IN the Universities of Germany, and have
no superiors in their several departments OF |
study-and that in these volumes Southern
teachers will find the very best instruction,
both in matter and manner, and Southern
parents need have no fear of finding any
or more open, abuse and Will
fication, we believe we have said all that is /
necessary in favor of series ofbOoks which /
appeals to the Southern people for support.
Our own self respect and our regard for
peace and harmony throughout our coun-
try, alike demand that the universities Sc
ries'' of School Books receive general adop-
ton throughout the Sooth.