Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-02-07

Itlme h0nored prlVllege,
| 2. The difficulty in securing q selec-
ton that would meet the approval Of
even majority Of school officers and
teachers in the state.
8. Deterioration in the scholarly pro-
gress of young teachers, and all youth,
arising from the unvarying phraseology
of texts and the absence Of collision III
expressions, which stimulate discussion
and challenge the use Of individual
judgement in their determinngs.
A. A resulting conservatism among
teachers and patrons, which would lead
to u more blind subserVience to texts
and greater Discrimination to keep
abreast Of the foremost thought regard
ing matter aud method.
The scheme Of local management IL
more consonant with prevailing sentl-
ment. 1t would be thoroughly efficient
in the interest of good organization. and
would probably be fayorably received
by teachers and officers
FACILITIES.
70 facilitate the introduction and re-
tention Of uniform texts III the respec-
tive schools, two features Of u plan are
here offered.
/. The state may select II series OF
texts for term Of years, 1T the lowest
price attainablc, through its extended
negotiations. This series to be offered
to communities upon the most favora-
bile terms.
9. A textbook exchange 70 be located
in each county, whore secondhand
books of one series may be exchanged
for those in use in residents district.
The first disadvantage stated, though
not based upon the most worthy grounds
will prove most Immediately yeXations
in the administration of any law which
contemplates state control OF details
through the multitude OF district otli-
cials. Past experience with accounts to
be rendered by districts to state authofl-
ties, has been or II character tending To
weaken confidence both in their prompt
ness and reliability. IN tire state Of
Minnesota, il il said TO be no uncom-
mon occurrence for the texts needed in
II school TO arrive from one to two
months after the term has begun. This
delay, caused primarily by the tnrdy or
der of mn official, ignorant 81 The need
and value of time, IL then made the
ground for reputation Of the order, and
II rejection Of the invoice, To the great
annoyance Of all nnd the serious injury
Of the school.
While time will obvinte many of the
difficulties heretofore encountered, the
elements Ct rrouponsibility and frc-
qucnt change Of officers seem likely to
prove permanent impedlmonts.
The third objection, resulting deterl-
, Grafton in critical thought, will appear
Of little consequences to many, because
Of its silent progress and rcmotcr results.
But its real effect would be more disns-
trous and all the more sure since its
first fruits would seem good.
The fact that all teachers gave assent
, to the phrase and dlcta Of Their
predecessors, making no vcxa-
tio,is examination Of disputed
points, would harmonic the successive
! quarterly dynnsIics and appear to pro-
mote progress by oconomlzing energy
If III tenchers were disciplined III
, habits of independent observation and
logical induction and if il were true
, that most teachers possessed u culture
sufficiently broad to include. in ready
grasp, the essentials Of each subject to
he taught, lhon the texts would take
their proper subordinate rank and work
less evil. But statistics Of the past year
show that tW0.thir1s of the teachers IN
Wisconsin have received their entire
literary and professional (9 prepnra-
tion IN thn rural district school; and
many more with scarcely enough train
.4l1 "A ~ "A "a
to this tho fact that fully four-tilths oi
thcir instructors Ind only attainmens
sufficient to win the lowest
certificate known to the law
while many, lacking even
this narrow culture, are from various
considerations permitted to occupy posi-
tons which they cannot fill; and it i
evident that the influence Of Textbooks
J is likely, for ut leasta generation, To bc
that of leader rather than servant
How important, then, that those Deepen
dent upon these helps To thought, he
forced To- consider diverse views in the
: direct line of luhor. The tendency tC
i accept statements with little questior
and less reflection, is SO characteristic
1 of immature culture that the state
HltIltS VI Ollt ECIlClullpll Wv pllili iG
I come the unquestioned crceds of the
! next. These considerations have led tC
: the belief that II uniformity of texts
| over il region 50 extended ~ the entire
] state, must surely operate to the detri
mont Of healthful thought iii schoo
/ work and That, whilc uniformity liz each
| school Is most desirable, II diversity il
! diRircm regions is productive Of much
q good.
The commission finds that there are
/ now in actual use III Wisconsin - series
3 including $50 different books, and mod
: ostly estimates that "A proper reduc
. tion OF the number of textbooks il
! most of the series would lessen the cost
. Of such books twenty per cent.
i Explanatory Of the bill "to cheaper
4 tho cost Of textbooks the full copy o
I which appears in the report the com
missoncrs say;
! Its purpose is fully expressed m il
TILE, and It seeks to accomplish thai
|. purpose (l) hy encouraging uniformity