Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-01-03
APPLETONS' SCHOOL READERS.
ST.. LOUIS, Dec. !

APPLETONS' SCHOOL READERS.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. II.
l.. S. HOLDEN-Dear Sir: Having
made a careful examination of the
Appleton Series of School Books, and
compared them with those now in
use, we most chcerfuiiv testify that,
in II opinion, they are far superior
to any we have seen, and would de-
cidedly recommend their'adoption in
the Public Schools. Yours,
Al. CHILDs,
Purch'g Ag't. Mo. State Grange.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 80, 1879.
Mr.. A. l.. DREw-Dear Sir: Your
inquiry regarding the statement cur
rently reported That McGuffey's Sc
ries of Readers have recently been
and in reply, l will state that no
action has been had for several years
on the subject of reader adoption.
McGuffey's series have been in use
here for some years, but are neither
satisfactory to teachers, parents or
pupils, as evidenced by the opinion
of 80 of the As principals of schools
two years ago, when the unpopular
ity of these book came near displacing
them in the ST. Louis Public Schools.
Yohrs truly,
l.. s. HOLDEN.
The following is the report of the
Committee of the schools t. which
the above letter refers:
Defects of Readers Now III Use
(McGuffey's)-In answer to all official
inquiry, forty-three of the schools
made returns, and all but five of these
schools expressed themselves as dis
satisfied with the books now in use
as Readers-McG uffey's. The faults
complained of are verified by the OK
perience md the examination of your
special committee, and are as follows:
1.-The Grading is too difficult.
2.-The Selections
1. Lack interest for the pupils.
2. Are abstruse in topics and style.
3. Are old-fashioned in phraseology.
/. Are stilted in expression.
5. Are illogical in treatment aud ar
rangement.
6. Are too similar III form.
z. Too prevailingly didactic for pur-
poseR of reading.
8. Lack adaptation.
3.-The notes and ordinations as
sumo faults that are obsolete, or too
obvious to require correction by a
textbook I; lack judicious elocution-
airy instruction.
4.-Typography and mechanical
execution relatively poor.
For the Committee of Examiners,
(Signed) H.. IL. Morgan, E. Ii. Long,
John A. Kimball, d. II.
Smith, l.. +. Sedan, f. f.
Cook, VIM. ID. Butler, A.
J.Caldw ell,J G.. Chrisiin.
From John b. Breier, Commission
Ell ST. Louis County None of our
Readers have as many c~ommendable
features united as Appletons' School
Readers. May our County adopt
them as Textbooks.
From j. II. Evans, Ex-Commission-
er St. Louis County: Appletons'
Readers are excellent books. The
subject of many of the lessons affords
a fine opportunity for a teacher to
lay a good foundation for the study
OF nlSnef branches.
From E. r. Booth, Superintendent
Schools, kirkwood l am delighted
with Appletons' whole series, and
| wish them a II extensive Introduction.
From Susie L. Blow, the Success
full kindergarten Instructor Apple
tons School Readers need no word
of praise. Thew are their own sufi.
cieut recommendation.
"Carefully GarnerediSheaves of the
Choicest Grain" From G. NJ. Wood
ward, Dean of the Polytechnic School
of the Washington University, st.
Louis: 1 desire to express the pleas
ure l have had in looking over APP
pletons' Series of Readers. They
embody SO many excellent features,
and the mechanical execution is SO
fine, that | am more than pleased
with them. l have picked the books
up scores of times, and have never
failed to open u judicious selection,
admirably treated. Your readers
are something more than promiscu.
Gus clippings OF tares and wheat
they are the carefully garnered
sheaves of the choicest grain.
Mrs. Cuthbert's School, Mary In
stltute, Washington University,
Toensfeldt Educational Institute, St.
Louis, and many District Schools i'll
this County use them.
We, the undersigned, dealers III
Lafayette County, NJ, hereby guar
antee that we will furnish ID. Apple
ton & Co.'S School Books tor the
next five (5) years, if adopted by the
Convention of Lafayette County, al
the following rates to the people Of
this county. Should the price oil
School Books be reduced the people