Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-16
About THE SCHOOL READERS.

ABOtF THE school. READERS.
We 10 no; know that the conclusions
we have reached--aftsr some examina-
tiou-on the subject of the School Read
ers now in use in the Public Schools OF
this State. uill altogether coincide With
the views heretofore expressed in another
par; of this paper. Ii 20. then SO much
the worse for the other part of this paper.
I, is proposed to Danish the NcGuiiy
SEXES o. Readers now in use, and supply
:heir places with either "Sheldon's" or
the Pacific Coast Series" Such, as
We understand il. is the question to be
passed upon by the Board of Education
u. the State, which will convene in this
city to morrow. It ought to be under
stood. IA Gn.ilae, as the lawyers say, that
no expense whatever. to either the state
or the pupils in the Public Schools. is
involved by any change that mag be
made, as the booksellers propose to give
new Readers for those now in use, look
ing to a future demand alone for their
profit. The only question then TO be
decided is which is the best of the riva!
Readers for the opposes o: instruction.
The State Board Of Education consists
of Governor Bradley. Surveyor General
Day, and State School Superintendent
Kelly. The Governor We learn clings to
the ancient McGuffy. Nothing that has
been written or spoken in public fcr the
last thirty years appears in the classic
McGuffy, aud such incendia1y black Re-
publican literature as Sheridan's Ride,
and Bakers dsnnnciation OF the good
OLD southern institution of duelling, are
not permitted to poison the minds of
those who peruse the pages OF the Gov
| ernor' favorite Readers. We do not ina
CINE tina; the views OF His E1cellency on
this subject viii be permitted 10 serious
| " influence either the chivalric and
patriotic General Day. or SO enthusiastic
q Union man and experienced an edu-
Gator as our friend Supt. Kelly. We
take i, for granted that majority OF our
State Board will be up with the times.
and that they will consider it no disad-
vantage to the youth Of this loyal State
to use Readers not entirely pursed OF
Union sentiments. Indeed We could
wish that q much stronger Union Reader
than any now published could be intro
duced into our Public Schools. Just
as the ,wig is bent the tree is inclined.
And line here and q precept there. may
serve to fasssn in the youthful mind
patriotic principles that shall keep the
sin of secession from taking root in ths
understanding Of the man. In behalf Of
the rising generation We vote for the
deposition of McGuffy, and we sincerely
trust that our State Board will give thu
old party his congo.
Between the two candidates for the
succession, it seems to US that if othel
things. snch as price and adaptability
for the purpose. are equal, the prefer
ence ought to be given to the Pacific
Coast Readers Our local literature
laws, boundaries, interests, bushes:
and duties, receive in these Readers +,
recognition not obtained elsewhere. anG
q proper local pride should induce US te
patronize those who have had the enter
prise to encourage local talent and to In
augurate a local literary enterprise
Literature is the language OF nations
knowledge, the pulse Of its growth. the
interpreter of its aspirations and capac
tiles, and in 80 far as as We aid to build
up q local literature, to call attention te
its beauties and to perpetuate its excel
lencies, we evidence to the world that VI
have advanced from the merely sordid
activities of . new country into the realm
Of culture and moral growth. Baker
and Stoddard. and Starr King, and Bret
Harte, and Hubert Bancroft, and MARI
Twain, have gained for their produc'
tions place in the Republic Of Letters
of which the people Of Nevada and Cal
ifornia may well feel proud, and text
books which include some Of their best
thoughts cannot but be Of interest and
benefit to our scholars.
We regret to observe that the worst