The Russellville Democrat., 1878-10-17
CHANGING. TEXTBOOKS IN
 OUR PUBLIC CtSCHOGLS.

ually one of the greatest drawbacks to the cause of the success of our public schools. It is almost impos- sible to keep up with the changes. At every new term of school, almost, the parent has to supply his chil- dren who are attending school with new books. It has now indeed be- come question whether the author ities who designate the text tboolss are working in the interests of book publishing concerns or for the cause of education. The former looks like the more reasonable supposition.
 But on this subject we did not in tend to write at this time any fur ther than to preface tae following article with few remarks. So we submit the article, which is from tue Little Rock Gazette, and com mend the article to the thoughtful consideration of our readers, and especially of our educators and school officers:
 We arc most earnest and sincere friend and advocate of common schools. We regard them as the very nurseries not only of our pro- gress, enlightenment and ciyiliza- tiop, but of our very liberties. No people can remain permanently free and happy without being educated; and no people can be universally educated without the aid of an eff cient common school system. It is our very love for the institution that makes us so jealous of it's honor, and efficiency and so indignant at every omission or inoyation that is calculated to impair its usefulness or bring it into popular dlsrepnte.
 There are many defects connected with the administration of our com mon school system in this State that demand the immediate and most earnest attention of our School Boards and other authorities having the superintendeacy of the manage ment of the schools, and that will demand the consideration of our in coming Legislature. We have time this morning to notice only one, but that one, perhaps, the most grlevous and burdensome of all the evils with which we have to contend in our efforts to build up, mantain and popularize the common school sys- sem. . We allude,ss ssof course, to the costly and eXtravagant practice ot the frequent changes of the text books.
 At every new session of our public schools we are required to drop the old text books with which the chil- dren had just begun to grow famil
 far, and adopt new ones that present new, and by reason thereof difficult and embarrassing method of instruct tion. The change of system is not only perplexing to the children, of teu confusing their minds and put ting them back instead of advancing them in their studies, but is exceed ingly expensive and burdensome to parents, and especially those who have many children to educate.
 If the same text books were cou- tinued from session to session there would be such uniformity in the mode and methods of instruction that wonld enable the elder children easily and conveniently to assist the younger ones, while the books of one set could be handed down to the next as they advanced. As it is now, the old scholars know nothing of the peculiar methods of instruc- tion taught in the new books of theil juniors, and can consequently, give them but little assistance.
 But again. In a majority Of cases the new books adopted are no i'm provement on the old ones, often the very contrary. We have had occas
 sion to examine several lately, and we are satisfied that some of them are greatly inferior to the old ones which they supplant. Of all the new style readers and spoilers, none oftheu surpass, ard hnt fewarc cqua to old Dr. McGudey,s series Old Olney's geographies are i.dnate ly superior to the gaudy new fashion ed styles while Davies arthmetics and Murray's grammars are much . more simple, comprehensive ant easily learned than any of the at tempted modern improvements or those authors.
 The truth is, that there seems tC ! be a perfect mania for new text books among school superintendents } nowadays, aud one would suppose } that in their indiscriminate innovo tions, they were actuated rather hJ ? a desire to promote the interests O publishing houses than to benef' ; the children and advance the inter est of the pubic schools.
 But again, the matter of expense is one of the gravest consideration 1T , connection with this matter. We don't know how it is in other cities towns and counties of the State ir thls regard; but if they are subjec' to the same inconyeniencies that wC are we will, perhaps be speaking