Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-05
School Books.

1t is apparent from the general tone of the
Pres OF the State, that there is a W jde-sproad
dissatisfaction at the action of the Board
Of Education in recommending the use of
French's ArithmetIcs for the five years sue
ceeding the first OF Novemb,r next. While
no doubt selfish motive might be found for
part of what is said on the subject, and
while still more of the complaint may per
hays lairly lie attributed to an unreasonin
opposition to any change of books whatever,
it is evident that much of the present crit-
cism is fIOm other and better mt tves.
We have DO sympithy it'll much of the
clamor about a change of books, as though il
were thing necessarily evil in itself \
change may be unnecessary it may be too
expensive; it may be from n better 10 a
worse book. 1t may also be inexped ent,
and the one proposed evidently is likely t.
come under this last head In any IF thes.
last cases it is far better to 90 on with the
old than to excite discomfort by the use o.
the new. The very able defense of the
Board, before the investigating committee
last fall, was a sufi ;eut answer to any
charges Or thought of improper motives on
their part in adopting the list of 1872, but ii
was far from conclusive as to the ACCESSIBILITY
of making the change Of which 50 much is
said.
Great stress was laid on the fact that, the
opinion of six of the. leading teachers in the
State was asked in writing, and that five
of those SIX gave a decided preference for
French's Arithmetic. The fact is, that the
opinion of those teachers was not asked upon
the merits of Greenleafs, the book now in
use, as compared with Eaton, Walton and
French; nor was their opinion as to a
change from Greenleaf asked. The New
port Express says that - All were familiar
with Oreenleai's; WaltOn's, Eaton's aDd
FTench's series were placed in their hands,
and they gave their opinions OF the relative
merits of the books Five of the six teach
ers gave French's the Preference The
above sentence, like everything else that has
appeared on that side, is carefully framed.
member of the Board, it is entitled to atten-
ton and there is in it the sane delicate
skill in the art of putting things that was
shown in the original presentation of the
Arithmetic question. The implication is,
that the teachers were asked, and gave then
opinion, as to the merits of the four series
the truth is in accordance with the other in
depreciation of tie sentence, that they were
to consider the relative merits of but three
series
On the 9Th PAGE of the late school repor
is the copy of "a circular sent to superintend-
ents and others, in which, after the request
to state what books are IN use comes this
to be filed out and returned to the eecre
tary.
''Of the textbooks in TIE present au-
thor zed list | think those named fe7ov
are not well adapted to the schools of VC-
mont: AMI that the State Board of Educa-
tiOn should select other textbooks for use II
place oI the same:
(Ilele give the names Of boo ks; also stat,
sny Objection to them HAT you may wish t,
sui NIT ior The toI s.t Grafton oi tie BoaI c. J %
Attr a circular so decidedly suggestive anc
leading, it is little strarge that the answer,
to it d. MT form Table Number IS of the re.
port So far an examination of the schoo
report leaves one IN a state OF sad uncertaint,
as 10 whether that circular was success u
a failure.
We are sorry to see another reason given
IN the article we have already mentioned d
coming from one of the Board, Tor tt e actor
UPON this question. 1t is stated squareIy.
For one this fact had DO little Ne Oh
with US in our Choice: On every ari,l metz
purchased we are paying all copyright
We had Secretary who We believed was al
earnest, thorough woI ker, man OF expert
cree and culture, Giving his time and energ,
to the improvement of our schools and doin.
an excellent work. This, we believe, is th
verdict of IL e people unbiased. His salar,
has never BEEN CONNIE Dsurate with the talen
and labor devoted to the work. He has
small copyright on bis arithmetics sold. Al
Other things icing equal ard his books Jus
as good, if no better, We thought it no breach
of duty, 60 indication Of veDality, to ALLOW
that copyright TO a citizen who was devotin,
his lie to the highest service of our State
rather than to the citizen OF another Stat
who has DO interest in us save to secure GU
money"
The salary of Secretary French is DO les
than when he came to Vermont; nor did b,
then have an additional revenue from tn,
superintepdeDcy of the Burlington schools
lie has dore biz work, and has been paid 70,
it according to the CT ntract he voluntarily
entceG iL.ci lie can cancel that contract. by