The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-06
To Southern Teachers and Parents.
A CARD FROM GEN. GORDON.

My excuse for addressing you must be the
great Importance of the subject to which l
would call your attenton-that of the pro-
per education of our children, and the pro-
per development of their self-respect and
character.
need not repeat any common places in
regard to the lasting effect of early impress
sions, the almost impossibility of diverting
the mind from the bent given it in early
years-all this you know as well as |. 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 misrepresenta-
tons, 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 dis
tasteful to US, because we had no alternative,
| only state that which every read G can
substantiate.
Long before the war we all felt the neces-
sity for change in this respect-the neces-
sity for unobnoxious school books-for un
sectional, unpolitical books-school books
prepared by our own scholars, if that might
be; and since the war this necessity has in
creased tenfold Individual efforts, of the
most praiseworthy character have, from time
to time, been made in this direction by
Southern men, but not Of sufficiently COM
prehensive nature to accomplish the purpose
in view.
To fully meet the want thus universally
felt, several of our ripest scholars, and most
successful teachers, united in preparing a
Series of School Books unsurpassed by any
others in excellence, beauty and cheapness.
Maury wrote Biographies and Astronomy;
Venable wrote Arithmetics, Algebras, &c;
Holmes wrote History, Grammars and
Readers;
Schele de We're wrote French Books;
Gildersleeve wrote Latin Books;
LIE Conte wrote Scientific Books;
Dunton made Writing Books, &C., &C..
And the combined series is called the UNI
vERsITY SERIES OF SCHOOL Books; series
not only not Objectionable to our people, but
positively attractive to a degree heretofore
entirely unknown. Our history, institutions
and modes of thought here receive impartial
treatment; and instead of being ignored, the
interests of the South here receive equal re-
presentation.
Then as to intrinsic merit, who knows
more about Geography than Maury, or of
History and Grammar than Holmes, or of
Mathematics than Venable, and so on
through all the list? Each author is a mas
ter in his special department.
1t is for this Series of books, so excellent,
so acceptable, so cheap (they are the cheap
est books published) that your favor is soil
cited.
The books of the UNIVERSITY SERIES are
presented distinctly upon their 39er5tS: you
are not asked to use inferior books.
If these two questions can be answered
afirmatively:-
Are these books equal to any in merit?
Are they as cheap as any?
Should they not receive your preference
What is more reasonable than that Southern
Schools should be supplied with books writ
ten 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 inGvita-
bic, to this question, has come. More than
5000, of our best Southern Schools are using
these books; several Southern States have
already adopted them for exclusive use in
their public schools; County Boards 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 10
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 pernici-
Gus teachings? Can it be better done than
by unanimously sustaining this first compre
hensive educational enterprise of our own
scholars, and by making the university
Series" the
UNIFORM SERIES IN EVERY SOUTHERN STATE,
Including, of course, any other books kav
ing 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 nc
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 re,
lieved of all anxiety in regard to the char
acter of the teachings under which their
children are brought.
This subject, in all its bearings, is of the
highest Importance to US as a people, my
countrymen. It's not sectional movement,
but national and patriotic one. 1t is not
a mere rivalry between different publishers,
or would not presume to ask your atten-
ton to it. 1t goes down deep into our dear
est interests it is the forming of the minds
of your children and mine, which is at stake;
the developing of their self-respect and char
acter, which is to be the result.
1t is an enterprise so important to us that
our best citizens-Our representative men in
every State, to the number of 300 and more,
the men we all honor and esteem-have put
their money into the work, not to make profit
out of it, although that is certain, but that
abundant means should not be lacking to
prosecute the enterprise on the largest scale.
Will the teachers and parents of the South
unitedly sustain these authors, and these
gentlemen, in the work thus described, by
adopting and using these books to the exclu'
sion of all not so acceptable! l do not
doubt your answer.
If you desire further information in re-
gard to the books, write to the UNIVERSITY
PUBLISHING COMPANY, 155 & I57 Crosby
ST., New York, or 81 Lexington St, Balti