Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-24
The Public Schools,
CHANGE OF TRxF ROCKS


specia meeting of the Board OF Trustees of
Public Schools was held las; evening for tue
purpose of considering the report of the "text
book committee, presented on the 18th OF De-
cember, to the effect that for many years the
biographies in use in the public schools had
tailed to give satisfaction, either to teachers or
pupils, and the committee had decided that the
complaints were well-fonnded. In conclusion,
The committee recommended the adoption of
CoTnelIs geography, as being much more suta-
BILE and advantageous.
MIR. Allen asked a division of the question; first
on the change OF books, and second on tie atlop-
ton of Cornell's geography, as recommended by
the committee. The motion was adopted.
MIR. Stuart opened the disc usion, and stated
that he had examined Warreh's SERIES (now in
use and also Mitchell and Cornell's series and
had found both OF the latter entirely unfit for
use III the schools. The trouble he thought was
with the teachers, and if they paid proper atten-
ton TO this study no change would be needed.
None OF the books entirely suited him, and he
thought that he could produce a book better
adapted to the schools than either Of those
named
Messrs. French, Richards, and Duliu also
spoke against a change, the latter favoring a
postpone ment of the whole matter, so as to keep
the took agents here, and SO that the members
OF the board might be more enlightened ON the
subject. fLaughter.l
NE. Champlin said that the committee had
charged that Warren's geography had not kept
tirely beyond the comprehension of the pupils
At this time there were two editions of the work
clashing one with the other. 1t placed in the
hands OF children from to II years of age and
is of 30 little value that the superintendent has
instructed teachers to omit certain portions. III
any one would convince him that a single pupil
iked the book, 1t would do much to convert him.
Mr.. Hart opposed a change, and spoke at con-
siderable length, reviewing the changes which
had been made during the past seven years He
claimed that the series recommended by the
committee was detective. and expressed the
opinion that il it was introduced, not one in fifty
could pass creditable review. He said that the
Warren series was used in all the schools of
Boston and other eastern cities, which was sutii-
eient to establish il As a standard work. Besides
Ii was cheaper than the Cornell series which
embraced seven books, at a total cost of $3.50
There are 5000 pupils attending the grammar
and intermediate schools that would have to
throw their books away if Cornelrs works were
adopted, anJit would prove an expense to 3 coo
children OF $3.50 apiece.
Mr.. Hart in favor OF Warren's geography was OF
itself alone enough to kill it, He claimed that il
was az difieult to learn geography from Warren's
ter. The book should be gotten rid of. 1t was
so ficult that no child can understand it.
MI Harris deprecated the change Of books,
but thought the same necessary for the welfare
OF the pupils of the public schools.
Mr. Mcclellan claimed that the information in
Cornell was much more recent than in War
ren's, and that gross errors were in the latter,
calculated 10 create wrong impressions and mis-
lead the pupil. He read letters from prominent
Typographical engineers and principals OF adj
yanced schools, recommending COrnells series
over all other Biographies.
The first question, Shall there be a change
in geographies?" was decided in the AFT rmatiye:
Yeas. 10; nays. 5-Messrs Hart, Richards, Stu
art, Allen, and French.
The adoption of COrnell's geography, and the
report OF the committee on textbooks, was
agreed to by the following vote: Yeas-Nessrs
Faust, Robinson, Harris, Randolph, Dietrich
Mcclellan, Richards, Woodward Moore Scott.
Dulin, Champlin. Evans, TroOk. AtLee, and
Murtagt-I6. Nays-Messrs. Hart, Stuart,
French, and Allen-4.
ard moved reconsideration, which. on the mo-
ton OF Mr. Mcclellan, was laid on the table.
Adjourned.