The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-06-13
"FOrty Millions Damage:

MR.. EDrroR,-Will you allow me few
words in reply TO Mr.. Stetson's vindication in
your paper of June 1st. If the teachers and
parents of this State are satisfied with suei
loose statements and absurd conclusions, then
have nothing more to say. But what can
we think of the common sense or discretion
of q man who deliberately asserts that one
humble school-boOk is alone responsible for
the abandonment of Hundreds and thou.
sands of farms of Maine, and the diminished
crops of nine tenths of the remainder?" And,
ii it can possibly be true, (which very much
doubS) that only one teacher out OF every
four in this State, can correctly add twenty
five items of three figures each, does it folloY
that Greenleaf's National Arithmetic is re-
sponsible for it? For one, l am ashamed to
have such statements published to the world,
even if they are true.
1t reflects far more severely upon our su.
pervisors and COMMITTEES who employ incom
petent teachers. than upon any text book
which they may have used. There is evident
ly a radical defect somewhere in our school
system, which demands our immediate and
serious attention.; but l do not think it can
be traced 10 the use of any book now in GHr
schools, however "huge" or "overgrown" it
may be. Even "Mt. Katahdin" itself, moving
in awful grandeur through the length and
breadth OF the State, under the guidance of
that faith which can move mountains, could
never produce such sad results.
Greenleaf's National Arithmetic, as indi-
Gated on its title page, aims to furnish "a con. .
plete course of higher Arithmetic" and is in
tended more particularly for academies AMI
high schools and not for the 'commCu
schools" 1t contains much that may hs
omitted, if thought expedient, but nothin:
that can possibly injure.
l.
adapt a text book to the capacity of biz
classes. A man is hardly expected to eat ali |
digest everything on the "bill of fare" place
| before him, however hungry he may be. l5
| is far better, we think, to have too much in u
| text book than too little since it is easier ID
| omit than to supply what is lacking.
The "New Practical Arithmetic" prepared
to accompany Greenleat's Mathematical So.
ries, by one formerly associate editor witt
Mr.. Greenleaf, is rapidly taking the place #
the National, as Mr.. Stetson says. And this
change, as understand, is recommended and
encouraged by the publishers, who regard it
as amply sufficient to introduce the pupil TO
| the higher branches, viz, Greenleat's Algebl a
| and Geometry. Mr.. Stetson says that at
| would be easy to make book much bett' r
| adapted to the wants of our State" II So,
then the work cannot be entered upon too
soon, and he, perhaps, is the man of all others
u DuI, Wlltu lie COIueS W lhtl
ALI important questiOn-what shall 60 in AMI
what shall be left out, so that critics shall ba
| sienced and everybody satisfied.-"Hoc opus,
| hic labor est" Furthermore / advise him
| not to leave out "Cube Root" nor "Cubic
Measure for cubes and spheres are practical
things of every day life and will not be ig-
nored, nor "a few other similar rules" refer
red to under his central idea"
| Finally, although compelled to say that Mr..
l.,A L., 4.sl. IL -
| against Greeneal's Arithmetic, (howeN' r
much the book has excited his preiudices) ard
in his article has exposed himself to the sn-
verest criticism in more ways than one, yet
wish him success in all his welLdirected. jtt-
dicous efforts in the cause Of education, nos
only in his own county but throughout tie
State, and may these efforts be rewarded IS
all educators hope to reap their reward.
| EDUCATOR"
| Portland, June Sth, 1871.