The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1871-12-07
THE ENTERPRISE.
Sweetwater, Thursday, Dee. 7,IS7I,
To Southern Teachers and Parents.
A CARD FROM GIN, GORDON.

the great importance Of the subject to
which would call your attention--that
of the proper education OF our children,
and the proper development OF their
self-respect and character.
need not repeat any commonplaces
in regard to the lasting effect of early
impressions, the almost impossibility of
diverting the mind from the vent given
it in early years-all this you know as
well as L. Nor need say anything
about the powerful silent influence, in
this educational work, of the school
books from which our children derive
their views of right and wrong, and their
knowledge of the facts, or misrepresen-
tatiOns, of histOry-for this, too, you
know full well.
And when [ say that having been, for
long years, almost entirely dependent
upon the North for our school books, we
have been compelled to use many which
were very distasteGul to us, because we
had no alternative, only state that
which every reader can substantiate.
Long before the war we all felt the
necessity for change in this respect
the necessity for unobnoxioug school
books--ior unsectional, al,unpolitical books
school books prepared by our own
scholars, if that might be; and since the
war tins necessity has increased tenfold.
Individual efforts, of the most praise
worthy character have, from time to
time, been made III this direction by
Southern men, but not of u sufficiently
comprehensive nature to accomplish the
purpose in view.
To fully meet the want thus univor-
sally felt, several Of our ripest scholars,
aud most successful teachers united in
preparing a Series of School Books un-
surpassed by any others in excellence,
beauty and cheapncss.
Marry wrote Biographies and Astron-
omy:
Yenable wrote Arithmetics, Algobras,
/ &c:
Holmes wrote History, Grammors and
Readers:
Schele de We're wrote French Books:
Gildersleoye wrote Latin Books:
lie Conte wrote Scientific Books:
Dunton made Writing Books, &c,
&C.:
And the combined series is called the
University Series of School Books; Sc
rics not cnly not Objectionable to our
people, but positively attractive to a de-
gree heretofore entirely unknown. Our
history, institutions and modes Of thought
here receive impartial treatment; and in
stead Of being ignored, the interests of
the South here receive equal representa-.
tion.
Then as to intrinsic merit who knows
more about Geography than Maury, or
Of History and Grammcr than Holmes,
or OF Mathematics than Ycnable, and 50
on through all the list? Each author is
IL master in his special department.
1t is for this Series Of books, SO excel
lent so acceptable, so cheap (they are
the cheapest books published) that your
favor is solicited.
The books Of the University Series are
presented distinctly upon their merits
you are not asked to use inferior books.
If these two questions can be answer
Cd atlirmatively;-
Are these books equal to any in merit?
Are thew AS cheap as ANY?
Should lAey not receive your prefer
enco? What is more reasonable than
that Southern Schools shohld be sup
piled with books written by Southern
scholars, provided they are equally good
with those written by Northern men ?
Is it not better both for us, and for our
children, that such books should be
used?
Already the response which was inc
vitable, to this question, has come. More
than 5000 of our best Southern Schools
are usn3 these books; several Southern
States have already adopted them for
exclusive use in their public schools;
County Boarls in every Southern State
are adopting. them; and the best private
schools are replacing books hitherto
used, with them. The success of the
university Series" is unprecedented in
the history Of school book publishing,
and it is destined to be yet greater.
Do the people of the South desire to
rid themselves Of obnoxious books and
pernicious teachings? Can it be better
done than by unanimously sustaining
this first comprehensive educational en-
terprise of our own scholars, and by
making the university Series" the
UNIFORM SERIES IN EVERY SOUTHERN STATE
(Including, Of course, any other books
having equal claim for consideration. }
Our schools will then be supplied with
books which they can long continue to
use; pupils compelled to change their
schools will no longer be retarded in
their studies by a change of books, for
all will use the same; and parents will
be saved the expense of present constant
changes, while they are relieved of all
anxiety in regard to the charater OF the
teachings under which their children are
/ I,ro,,o,bt