Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1883-07-20
School Text Brooks.

1t is understood that the question of
making some changes in the text books
now in use in the public schoo's OF the
county is at present under consideration by
county school board. 1t seems that the
power to make such changes Is vested in
the local school boards. Frequent changes
of the text books used in the schO nls are
attended with serious inconvenience and
trouble to pupis, as we'll as expense to
parents, and operates to retard the pupils
very much in the progress of their studies.
1t is difficult, in fact impossible, to make
a change at anytime that there are not
great many classes in the different schools
that have progressed sufficiently far in the
text book then in use.ito render change
to new, one especially in grammtr and
some other books, equivalent to 'Ss of
all the time devoted to the study of the
rejected book. The system and method
of different authors differ m atcrally, and
it is next to impossible for teacher to
transfer his classes from the point they
have reached in one text book to point
of corresponding advancement in new
and differen, one. Hence school boards,
taking these things into consideration,
ou .ht to he very slow to make such
changes. Ofcourse book agents and pub
fishers are always ready to advocate these
h,k Sba l,1arl, Of alnnatinn n
whom is invested a discretion in that
mater. ought to take such a step with
reluctance. and only upon heing convinced
of the inetficiency of the book in use and
the decidedly superior excellence of the
one proposed to be substituted.
| 1t is understood that among the books
the retirement Of which are under con-
sideration. are Harvey series ofgrammars
which have been in use in the schools for
about ten years. We feel sure that the
/ board before taking this sep, will confer
with the teachers of the county: and. un-
less the books in question are pretty gen
erally condemned by the leading teachers,
they will not take step which would he
attended with serious obstruction to the
progress Of public education in the county.
As far as we have conferred with teachers
regarding the subject, the grammars in
question appear to be regarded by them
as very thorough and comprehensive in
their scope and practical and perspicuous
| in their methods From tolerably care
/ ful ex,mination Of the Iii ffe,ent book $
constituting tn. series, such is certainly Y
our priv lte opinion in reg.rd Il them
While the sivlnced grammar may be
difficult 10 the average common school
pupil, it is the opinion Of some tetchers
that we have talked with --tht' III" inter
mediate book and the IL lngu,ge Lessons
are graded down low enough for the most
simple undertaking. While some gen
tlemen, who studied the oil pro iuctive'
or "inductive' method Of Smith and
others. complain of what appears TO them
as the diff cult method of analysis adopted
by Harvey, il must be re nembercd tina,
nearly all the more recent authors have
adopted q similar system: and it il Ger
.ainly difficult to obtain correct under.
stand OF English construction and com
neSitiap i.h4nt 4trsiaI TIh n VIZ TTae ~
tainly productive OF much ignorance on tn,
subject of grammar, and the population
i ot Harvey aud substitution of Smith Al
this day would be like doing away with
the self fhinding reaper and The ss.-clesn.
ing thresher and taking up the old hand
sickle and wooden "frsil"