Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-03-21

SCHOOL BoOKs.-In another column will be
found the advertisement of the Select Series of
school books recently adopted by the State Board
of Education, for in the schools Of the State.
Two sets Of these standard text books are too
well known to need commentator, for it may
be truthfuly said that the people of this genera
sion, in Virginia, have been raised on McGuffey S
Readers and Davies Arithmetics and their con-
stantly increasing popularity and the fact of their
being endorsed by the State Board of Education,
are sufficient evidence that there is no necessity
for changing books, every way so acceptable,
and already in the hands of more than three
fourths of the Oh ildren in the State and incur
ring an enormous expense merely for the sake of
trying an experiment with books that have not
been tested, and that have no marked excellen-
cies to commend them. We publish elsewhere
notice of DR.. McGufey's books from that able
Baptist weekly, the Religious Herald, of Rich
mond, to which we invite attention The other
set in the Select Series, Guyots Biographies, are
comparatively new candidates for public favor ;
but they have been in use long enough to place
them in the very front rank as educational works
of unsurpassed excellence, the introduction OF
which marks the opening of new era IN the
study of geography, and makes that study an
educational agent, second to none other IN well
regulated system of public instruction. Two let
tiers lie before Us from which we cannot forbear
to quote-the first is from DR.. Sears, the learned
Superintendent of the Peabody Fund for the
benefit of the South, who, in replying to letter
from the County Superintendent of our county,
informing him that he had adopted Guyots &C.
ographes for use in the public schools, wrote =
at is not my purpose to take any part in recon-
mending books for the public schools; but, as
my opinion of these works has already been
published, there is no improperly in my saying
that, in common with most educators, l regard
1t as the best series for its purpose, of any before
She public Guyots system is eminently ele-
mentary in character, simple in its method, and
fundamental in its facts and principles. ] think
you have done wisely in adopting it, Teachers
OF ordinary capacity will have no difficulty in
using It," The other is from Prof. J. McKinsey,
the e1hcient Principal of the large and admra-
bly, conducted Graded Boys School of our city
Of Staunton and echoes back from the school
room the opinion of Dr. Sears. He writes: ST
have used biographies of the very best repute in
my schools, but have stood the test of the
school-room well as Guyofs They have
done what | have seen other geography do
viz: Awaken an interest, amounting to e,athql
sSasm on the part of the pupil in the study of
geography. In fact, it is just impossible for me
to describe in words, either their great value, or
my high appreciation of them as text books
Those who give them fair trial will certainly
prefer them to all Others"
1t will be seen, by reference to the advertise.
ment that Staunton is one of the eight deposito-
ries, made by order of the Board of Education
and from this point the surrounding counties are
to be supplied; two of our active book firms.
Hunter s. Co., and Bell & Co., have been made
the erctsiue agents for the Select Series and all
parties desiring these school books for the next
three and half years, at the low, State prices,
will send to them