New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-07

| q reference to the records. Inc law au'
thorizes the board, in its discretion, to
change the text books at the end Of every
two years, but this is rarely done, and
never, so far as we can learn, for the mer-
cenary reasons imputed to the members
by the Picayune. Prior to 1872, there
were as many different kinds Of books in
I use as there were districts. The law re-
quired uniformity, and the board at
tempted to comply with its requirements.
An order was therefore passed, after good
deal of discussion, to adopt for use in the
grammar schools, Wilson's series of Read
ers, Browns Grammar, Barnes United
States History, Robinson's Arithmetic,
Mitchelrs Geography, and the Scholar 8
Companion. With the exception of the
grammar and history, the other books
were already in general use, and were re-
tanned on that account. 1t was also or
dered at the same time that pupils be per-
mitted to use such books as were already
in hand until they were worn out, but
were required to buy the designated books
when new ones were wanted. II this
manner, Buffers, Harvey's and Goodrich's
Grammars and Greenleaf's Arithmetics re-
manned in use long time, as some parents
availed themselves of the low prices occa-
stoned by the change in text books to still
buy them. 1t was rather difficult to dis
criminate with certainty between books
ION hand" at the date of the promulga-
ton of the order Of change, and those
which were bought afterward. Hence,
for long time, there was to some extent
a want Of that uniformity which the law
requires and which is undoubtedly desir-
able. 1t is not necessary here to 60 into
further details of the difficulties growing
out Of the use of mixed school books.
Any reporter can learn all about it by ap-
plying to the teacher in his ward.
At the same time Wilson's readers were
adopted, it was successfully urged that
as they were already in general use there
would be less distress imposed upon the
poor people. by continuing them than by
adopting new series. At the same time
the majority Of the members, the super
intendent, and nearly all Of our most sue
cessful and experienced teachers consid-
cred them inferior to the Independent Sc
ries. So fully convinced of this were the
members of the board that in the begin
ming Of 1875 the Independent readers
were finally adopted. But Harper &
Brothers agents here, by making extraor-
binary exertions, the nature of which we
are not sufficiently informed of to state
with any degree of certainty, succeeded
in having the order repealed at the
next meeting. This action of the
board was clearly illegal, as the
law specifically provides that the adop-
ton of any book shall be for not less than
two years. The valuable services which
some OF the members supposed Harper's
Weekly had rendered the Republican
party, with the able articles of George
William Curtis, and the unparalleled Carl
catures Of the inimita BILE Mast, had quite
as much to do with this last named pro-
ceeding as anything connected with the
merits Of the respective works. What
ever the Picay,tne may allege the current
belief to be, there is no foundation for
the charge that any member was infu-
enced by mercenary motives. If any
were, it never appeared, and there never
were any circumstances which pointed to
such conclusion.
There has, therefore, been in fact no
change in text books authorized by the
board since the fall Of 1872, except Swim
toms Grammar, and one or two trifing
ones in the high schools. Latterly, how
ever, the committee on high sch ools, in
consequence of an increased number of
pupils, recommended an additional
teacher for one of them, and that elocu-
ton be added to the studies. The COM
mittee also requested the division super
ntendent, in consultation with the teach |
ers, to examine the several works on elo-
,ution, and make selection of proper
work. He chose the Independent Sixth |
Reader as the best and cheapest work of |
he kind in the market. This brought
INTO immediate activity Harper's rather
neddlesome agent. Backed up by Har-
'er's Weekly and Nasts pictures, he Wis
sed the high schools, bored and bull
led the teachers, and finally wrote
very silly and disrespectful letter to the
'oard, which, if it meant anything, i'm
lied charges against the division super
ntendent of being lukewarm in the great
ause of selling Harper's books. The
'oard, instead of returning his communi-
alton to him as it ought to have done,
eferred the whole matter to committee
'hich was very unfortunately selected.
he result is, this committee has adopted
S text book on eiocution, to be used in
ne high schools, common grammar
chool Wilson S. Fifth Reader, which all
ne pupils have read again and again, and
now thoroughly by heart This is SIM
ly making burlesque of education, and
ell calculated to bring our high schools
ito ridicule. There is no such thing as
re first principle of elocution defined in
1e book, and it will be foolish waste of |
me to put it into the hands of young
dies who can repeat its contents from
ne end to the other.