Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-02-08

| nave cause 10 rally again and to insist up
, on being heard. May we not address onr
selves 10 the practical difficulties whicl
those who oppose special legislation. I,
create Uniformity. insist upon.
On account of the competition of Pub
fishers, and to avoid every appearance o
favoring one house more than an other.
would dismiss altogether the plan OF select
ing any list whatsoever from publication,
now In the market. The State Is who'll,
competent to create Board of Commi :.
sioners. who shall be charged with the
duty OF editing or compiling with di>in-
terested care. series of books tor the gen.
eral use of the Common schools. There
shall be series Of Readers. spoilers,
ArIthmct'cs. Grammars and Biographies
arranged to give the maximum OF practical
Instruction With the minimum of cost.
Ii will not be denied that this is precisely
the same Kind OF work that hosts OF school
book Authors essay and believe they ac-
complish. TO simplify matters. We viii
grant that there are As good Books now in
the market a. wit aud wisdom can pro-
duce
The necessity Of editing list by special
Commission. is to obyIate probable COM
plication and charges of unfair dealing
When new set OF books has been pre.
pared for the hands of the printer let the
State ash for sealed proposals from Pub
fishers. Whatever responsible houses IN
the state put In bids. inigl.t justly have the
preference. But no one house shouid pnh-
li>h all the branches The copv Rich,
shall be permanently secured Ia the STATE
Thus. It seems 10 me. II We wille,l Il. a >cf
Of hooks that would not cost parent, much
II any more. than halt the price. now paid.
could be distributed to all parts of the
State. The ordinary retail dealer could be
furnished from the several houses OF publi-
cation, and sell At the uniform price made
known through the Office of the State
Superintendent, and printed on the cover.
Of every hook
Are there any serious reasons for rerls-
ing TO take definite Legislative measure.
to give the public school, thi, great ble-,-
Ing: Can afford to support our Normal
schools and County Supervision and In
,iitutc>. unless we also reform this very
serious disorder in school study. aud. Just
grievance Of parepIs and teachers aiikcs
know oi no eors thar would sat. cx-
pcusc> 10 schools, and thar would add 10
the efficiency Of teaching, Ike that 81 pat
ting intn the hands Of scholar, uniform
Textbooks. II classification were more
perfect. the result, would be incre4.ed -
but we cannot obtain true clas-ldc alton
while there are school book, OF various
authors Ia the same district
Another important sep T., this.
Tie supply ofihe pupils 'orin af"f term
which +, now imperfect can be wholly
remcdlcd In one way
teer the state has edited suitable books
the time Will come 20 require al school
district. 20 begin the plan Of adding 70 the
>chooi-hou,e = secure bookcase TO eunt4iu
the needed Textbooks Like henchr. all
blschhnatd.. an ihr text book, furnished
al lowest wholesale cost. nigh, now h,.
purchased by direct tax Thi, plan j. now
IA operation n ihv city of Bath. The
-'hoiAr- could De- held responsible Tor To-,
81 waste. and suitable penaliic, enforced.
Let the book case, like the teachers
d.-A De secured. and put incharze of the
teacher
The great gain 90 The schools 70, uni
iormlty. and Al al times. adequate supply
~ book, cannot be- uycr-tared All de-
LAYS NOW cau--d Al The opening a the
term would cease; all tho friction Of Ia.
practice vi borrowing and lending aud
studying together would come to an end.
submit thi- TO my co-taborcr.
These measures to lessen the present
confusion Of the schools. are advocated
with full knowledge OF the the steep road
We have as educators, to climb. And
am not charged with over zeal. I; l. good
to see the more excellent way, though be-
tween seofng and experiencing there streach
long years, and many mile through thicA-
ct and branch aud brler We must labor
and wait. aud labor aud hope on. 10 the
perfect day.
Ellsworth. Jan. %. ls3a.