Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-07-15
COUNTY SCHOOLS.
Circular 10 District Directors anG
Teachers, and Notice 20 Appli-
cants for Certificates.
Adoption of the University Series Of
Observation-Disclosures Therefor
Briefly stated.

The attention of the public is directed
to the following, from the county super
intendent of public schools:
TO DISTRICT DIRECTORS AND TEACH
ERs.
1t being important as we'll as ecOnOm.
ical to have uniformity in the selection
of school-books, and the law making il
my duty to advise in the matter, / take
this early occasion to Indicate my OWL
view as to the selection. The law does
not contemplate any instantaneous and
! forced change which may be incon-
venient and expensive, but with a view
to uniform series for gradual introduc-
| ton and use it is desirable that there
should be concert of action. For this
purpose, having made such examina-
ton as L have been able to do, have
concluded to recommend for Shelby
county the books known as the "Uni-
versity. Series" endorsed and recon-
mended by the faculty of the universi-
ty Of Virginia, namely: the arithme-
tics by Professor Venable, of that insti-
tuition, the primer, spoilers, and readers,
with the history of the United States
by Professor Holmes, of the same uni
versity, Carter's general elements of
history, with the inpriBadture of that
university, and the Biographies by Com
modore Maury. With an ample con-
sciousness that, in issues in relation to
which scholars may be divided, it will
be well that my own opinions should be
mOdestly entertained as well as ex-
pressed, will venture to say, not only
what is certain, that these are excellent
books and quite the rivals of the best ex-
tant, but also that, all things considered,
they are emphatically the best books to
be placed in the hands of our children
which we can obtain. While they are
up to the times and the progress of
learning and science in as full meas
ure as any others, they are well adapted
to the wants of our own school, and, /
learn, can be had at as low price as
any ether and similar series. In this
view / am strengthened and confirmed
in my conclusions by the information
that most of the superintendent in
our near vicinity, with many in
the western district and through
out the State, elected in April,
have already adopted the series with the
appreciation of the State superintend-
ent as to the principle on which they
have proceeded now recommended.
There is, withal, another, and to my
mind a very cogent reason why these
books should be generally used, and that
is that they are free from all sectional
Misrepresentation, fault or bias They
tell the truth without perversion or con-
cealment, and without the stain of par
tisan or provincial coloring. The histor-
ical works are neither northern nor
southern, butnational and scholarly, re-
lating events so without suppression OF
OYercolOring as to make the whole i'm
preston that of truth rather than fic-
ton. 1t is books of this character alone
we should Introduce, if we regard either
the suitable education of our children or
the future fraternity and well-being of
The country. And if they emanated
from Harvard instead of the university
Of Virginia, l should recommend them
with the same zeal, and for the same
1t is undesirable to in
.roduce a historical work which
should give the sectional coloring de
'ired by either party to the late civil
war, while, in my view, it would be
nonstrOus to introduce one condemna-
.ory of an innocent people for the in
5truction of their children. Neither |
should such book be allowed here, nor
my man as an instructor of youth, who
would introduce or teach from any but
uch as are wholly unobjectionable in |
his respect. As the university series is |
%, l commend it for adoption, and hope
% see it introduced to use as early az |
)ossible. The books can be obtained |
rom all the booksellers. Having deter.
mined on good and excellent series,
yreat and annoying expenditures will
De saved, hitherto resulting from fire.
Iuent changes accor ling to the whims |
u new teachers, perhaps stimulated by |
he interests and influence of rival pub |
ishers, and the swarm of publishing /
gents. F. A. TYLER,
County superintendent Public Schools.
TO APPLICANTS FOR CERTIFICATES.
Teachers desiring certificates Of quail
ications, required by the public school |
aw passed March 6, 1878, may make |
application to me until further notice, |
It my office, No. Jefferson street, up |
tairs, between the hours of ten O'Clock /
n the morning and three o'clock in the |
Ifternoon. F. A. TYLER,
County Superintendent