Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-02-12

reluctance or communities TO VleIu
time honored privilege.
2. The difficulty in securing a 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 ofyoung teachers, and all youth,
arising from the unvarying phraseology
Of texts and the absence Of collision IN
expressions, which stimulate discussion
and challenge the use of individual
judgement in their determinings. s ian.
4. A resulting conservatism among
teachers and patrons, which would lead
to a more blind subservience to texts
and greater Discrimination to keep
abreast of the foremost thought regard
ing matter and method. #
The scheme of local management is
more consonant with prevailing sentl-
ment. 1t would be thoroughly efficient
in the interest of good organization, and
would probably be favorably received
by teachers and officers .
FACILITIES.
To facilitate the introduction and re-
tention of uniform texts in the respec-
tive schools, two features Of q plan are
here offered:
/. The state may select a series of
texts for term Of years, at the lowest
price attainable, through its extended
negotiations. This series to be offered
BILE terms. Es ss..s,.. a..
2. A textbook exchange to be located
in each county, where 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 vexatious
in the administration of any law which
contem plates state control of details
through the multitude of district Off
Gals. Past experience with accounts to
be rendered by districts to state authorl-
ties, has been Of q character tending to
weaken confidence both in their prompt
ness and reliability. In the state of
mon occurrence for the texts needed in
school to arrive from one to two
months after the term has begun. This
delay, caused primarily by the tardy or
der of an official, ignorant of the need
and value of time, is then made the
ground for population of the order, and
a rejection of the invoice, to the great
ANNOYANCE of all and the serious injury
of the school. .aa l.
While time will obviate many of the
difficult heretofore encountered, the
elements Of irresponsibility and fire.
quent change of officers seem likely to
prove permanent impediments.
The third objection, resulting deteri-
Grafton in critical thought, will appear
of little consequence to many, because
of Its silent progress and remoter results.
But its real effect would be more disas-
rOus and all the more sure, since its
first fruits would seem good.
The fact that all teachers gave assent
to the phrase and dicta of their
predecessors, making no vexa-
tlOus examination of disputed
points, would harmonic the successive
quarterly d ynasties and appear to pro-
mote progress by econOmizlng energy.
If all teachers were disciplined in
habits of independent observation and
logical induction; and if it were true
that most teachers possessed culture
sufficiently broad to include. in ready
grasp, the essentials Of each subject to
be taught, then the texts would take
their proper subordinate rank and work
less evil. But statistics Of the past year
show that two-thirds of the teachers in
Wisconsin have received their entire
literary and professional (?) prepare
ton in the rural district school; and
many more with scarcely enough train
ing elsewhere to merit mention. Add
to this the fact that fully four-fifths Of
their instructors had only attainments
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 is
evident that the influence Of textbooks
is likely, for at least generation, to be
that of leader rather than servant.
How important. then, that those Deepen
dent upon these helps to thought, be
forced to consider diverse views in the
direct line Of labor. The tendency to
accept statements with little question
and less reflection, is so characteristic
of immature culture that the state
ments OF one generation too often be-
come the unquestioned creeds Of the
next. These considerations have led to
the belief that a uniformity of texts
over region sc extended as the entire
state, must surely operate to the detri
ment of healthful thought in school
work; and that, while uniformity in each
school is most desirable, diversity in
different regions is productive of much
good. ~ s.
The commission finds that there are
now in actual use in Wisconsin Is series,
including 1S9 different books, and mod
estly estimates that ga proper reduc-
ton of the number of textbooks in
most of the series would lessen the cost
of such books twenty per cent.
Explanatory of the bill "to cheaper
the cost of textbooks" the full copy of
which appears in the report, the COM
missioners say:
" Its purpose is fully expressed in its
title, and it seeks to accomplish that
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