Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-02-12

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publishers, probably at small advance
upon first cost.
3. A tendency to uniformity in phrase
and method, throughout the state, which
would make the change of teachers less
| injurious to school work than at pres
ent, and pave the way for a more per
! feet state system.
The disadvantages would be:
/. A difficulty in enforcement of the
| regulation, owing to a wide spread
reluctance Of communities to yield a
time honored privilege.
2. The difficulty in securing a se'ec
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.
| 4. A resulting conservatism among
teacher<and patrons, which would lead
/ to more blind subservience to texts
and a greater Discrimination to keep
abreast of the foremost thought regard
ing matter aud method.
| The scheme of local management is
more consonant with prevailing senti-
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 plan are
here offered:
/. The state may select series Of
texts for a term of years. at the lowest
price attalnable, through It's extended
negotiations. This series to be offered
to communities upon the most lavora-
BILE terms.
,. 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 vexatous
in the administration Of any law which
contemplates state control Of details
through the multitude Of district Off
Gals. Past experience with accounts to
be rendered by districts to state authori-
ties, has been of a character tending to
weaken confidence both in their prompt
ness and reliability. In the state of
Minnesota, it is said to be no uncom-
mon occurrence for the texts needed in
a 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 reputation of the order, and
n rejection of the invoice, to the great
annoyance Of all and the serious injury
of the school.
While time will obviate many of the
difficulties 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 consequences 10 many, because
of Its silent progress and remoter results.
But It's real effect would be more disas-
trous 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-
tious examination OF disputed
points, would harmonic the successive
quarterly dynasties and appear to pro-
mote progress by economizing 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 t'C0-thir&s of the teachers in
Wisconsin have received their entire
literary and professional (?) prepare
tion IL the rural district school; and
many more with scarcely enough train
ing elsewhere to merit mention. Add
to this the fact that fully four-tifths of
their instructors had only attainments
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 a generation, to be
that Of leader rather than servant
How important, then, that those depen-
dent upon these helps to thought, be
! 81.