Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-15
A CHANGE OF SCHOOL BOOKS PRO-
POSED.

A CHANGE OF soHeoL BOOKS PRO-
The habit of changing text books in
public schools every time an enterprising
publisher gets out something new in
binding and form, and sends his agents
around to work up business should not
be encouraged ortolerated. Ga general
principles frequent changes are PERM
cious and injurious in the extreme.
The old text books have not been i'm
proved much in the last twenty years at
least. Lindlay Murray's grammar was
studied pretty generally not many years
ago, and from its hard pages The last
generation learned to speak, write and
think a pure clear English not
likely to be improved until the
language u~ndergoes a gradual change
in the course of several centuries,
There are other good grammsrs-half
q dozen or more, but we mention this
one as an old standard. There has been
no improvement on McGufey' readers,
aud can not be unless to consolidate
two or more into one for the author was
a learned man who devoted more than
an average lifetime to the work of pro-
ducing the series, From Billions course
of books the principles of language and
mathematics may be learned as well as
any other. There has been no real i'm.
proyement in Webster's spelling book
for q long time, simply because it is cor
rect. The arrangement might possibly
be changed without weakening the popu-
Lar standard Of photography, but even
this is doubtful. The word square is an
adjective, but it has no comparative or
superlaiiYe degree, because it Is absolute
and complete within itself. We cannot
say that anything is squarer or squarest
There are certain facts and principles
which are eternal and Interchangeable
The old Latin and Greek authors wrote
with a clearness and purity Of style that
has never been excelled, and their works
have been standards for ages and will be
as long as mankind cherishes learning
and initiates fauliless models. There are
limits to capacity, thought and acquire
nent, beyond which all is speculation
and chaos. We are led TO these obser-
vations By certain action taken in the
board Of school visitors last night. A
report was made in favor OF changing
grammsrs, readers aud histories in The
city schools. The committee offered no
reason. and the superintendent, while
c~ozcurring in the report, admitted with
characteristic candor that he was not
familiar with the eourse Of readers rec.
commended, but refers 10 q gentleman in
Nashville who says it is all right. It is
just barely possible that a s%uperintend
ent should examine for himself before
csncarring 10 a report which husi
put many people Of moderate means
to a considerable expense. We M
derstand that the agents of Ger
tain publishers Of school books have
been in the city sotne time agitating thii
question and working it up as a matter
OF business. This may be legitimat,
enough, but If a change is made an in
quisitive public might want to inquire
who gets or loses the agency aud com
missions for selling the books used il
the public schools, aud whether any cut
side pressure had been brought to bear
Any change made by the board ia a con
fession Of past mistakes or neglect o
duty. We do not even know the name
Of the publishing houses that are so mucl
interested in our public schools, and cer
calmly care nothing about their privat
business. But We do take an interes
and a pride in the schools, and shall trea
this question tairiy and squarely upo.
ITS merits and in the interest Of til
people.