The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-08-15
Selecting Text Books.

the very best, as well as uniformity, OF text
books in all the schools during the next
year and forever afterwards, issued orders
early in June to the Superintendent of
Schools, to organize forthwith in. each coun-
ty and city two standing committees on
Text Books, Zone of teachers, the other of
trustees) charged with the duty of examin-
ing carefully and reporting on the different
licensed text books offered for their consid-
GRAFTON; of collecting information in regard
othe practice in the schools in reference to
this subject and of making suggestions as to
changes in books or regulations.
1t is the duty Of these comm ittees to re-
port formally at least once a year to the
County School Board, with which body rests
the final power and duty of determining
which of the licensed books on the State
list shall be used in the Schools. And no ac-
ton can ever. be taken by the School Board,
in reference to changes in books until after
such reports are made.
School officers were therefore required to
give their earnest attention to this subject,
.and to organize promptly their committees,
so that they might be prepared to report to
the annual meeting of the County School
Board in August.
The law in Its vigilance upon .his subject
explicitly provides "that no member of the
Board of Education, nor Superintendent of
schools, nor school trustee. nor any other
school officer, nor teacher shall have any
pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in
supplying books, maps, furniture, or appa-
ratus; nor shall act as agent for any author,
publisher, bookseller, or dealer in any such
furniture or apparatus, or directly or indi-
rectly receive any gift, emolument, reward,
or promise of reward, for his influence in
recommending or procuring the use of the
same, &c.
And the instructions declare, that no per-
sons whose opinions about books are already
settled, or who think that one book is as good
another, or who allow their judgments to
be warped by prejudice or personal feeling,
or who do not wish to be bothered with so
much ado about text books, that all such per-
sons are disqualified to act.
The committees of this county are com
posed of the following gentlemen, viz j:
Trustees, VIM. Withrow, L. S. Hogshead
and DR.. w. Davis; and Teachers, G. S.
Roller, j. w. Calhoun, NJ. W. Quarles, VIM.
I. Stout and j.. NJ. Stetfey; and Superin-
tendent, r. S. Hamilton.
And the licensed books to select from are
as follows
Arithmetics- Whites, Dawes.
and Davies & Peck's.
opy-books-Spencerian, Ellsworth's, and
Payson, Dunton and Scribner's.
eographies-Guyot's, Maury's, Mon.
teith's and The Eclectic.
Gran,mars-Bullion's, Harvey's, Holmes,
Swinton's and Kellogg & Reeds.
Readers and Spellers-H Holmes, Shell
don's, McGuffey's and the Independent.
Dictionaries ter's and Worcester's.
observation-disclosures U. S., Magll's Vir-
ginia, and Blackburn &c McDoEald's U. S.
The committees, after patient examina-
ton of all the books,-having been at work |
laboriously for the last seven or eight weeks |
met on Saturday, the 10th instant, at the |
room of the Court of Appe ais, and were in
session al. day.
In their report, they recommended for
adoption Venable's Arithmetic, El!sworth's |
Copy-books, Magill's History of Virginia,
Blackburn &c McDonald's New School His
| tory of United States, Sheldons Speller,
First, Second, Third, and Fourth Reader
and Holmes Fifth and Sixth Reader.
The committees adjourned until Wednes-
day the 2lst,) when they will complete their
report, and submit it to the County School
Board.
The arrangements between the State
Board and the publishers are limited to four
years, 4. e., from August 1st, 1878. to Aug.
LIST, 1882; but the local boards may make
changes OF books which have heretofore been
in use at any time during the four years,
and whenever change is made, the new
book shall remain in use not less than four
years thereafter. provided that for any ex-
cess of time beyond 1882 special arrange
ments as to prices shall be nude in advance
by the local boards.
The law provides that newly selected
books shall be introduced in the formation
OF all new classes. and the old books all
be tolerated only when commencement
has been previously made in such books by
a majority OF the pupils in class, in which
case their use may be continued until the
completion Of those books by that class, and
no longer. II, however, the publishers of
the newly chosen books make satisfactory
offers in reference to the exchange of new
books Tor the old, the changes may be made
as sudden and complete as may be deemed
advisable by the School Board, due regard
being had to the course of instruction in the
school.
AS soon as the books for the next year
shall be determined on, due public notice
will be given of the name, prices and mode
OF obtaining these books, and the regula-
tions of the Board of Education which rem
der it Indispensable for every pupil to be
supplied with the proper books before his
admission into any public school.
1t is made the duty Of each County School
Board to make early and effective arrange
ments whereby supplies of books will be
brought within reach of the children and |
sold on the terms indicated in the contract,
and to be always prepared to supply INDECENT
children promptly. Teachers are forbidden |
to receive or teach pupils who are not sup
piled with books and other noedfu appli-
ances.
The ECLIPSE OF THE Moon came off
according to programme OH Monday
night last, but the general interest mani
tested by our citizens did not amount to en-
thusiasm. The clouds did the largest part
OF the obscuring, and it was only at inter-
walls that the Swallowed face of Lunar was
visible, but the intervals served to exhibit
the spectacle to all who would cast their
eyes heavenward. The eclipse was caused
by the earth passing between the sun and
the moon. The sun shining upon the earth
casts 1t shadow on the moon. This shadow
is conica. its base being on the earth and
projected into SPACE and passed over tha