The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-21
Ranort on school-Books.

| Report on School-Books.
| We are in receipt OF communication
from DE-. ]. WILLIAM JONES, secretary Of
the southern Historical Society, setting
forth that the abstract OF the report OF the
Committee on Schools and Colleges In re-
ference to the books OF the Eclectic Be-
ries,v published in our yesterdays issue
omits very important parts OF that report,
and nav therefore give coionng which
the report does not bear. That injustice
may be done TO no one we subioin here
with the full text OF the committees re-
port.
REPORT or THE COMMITTEE on SCHOOLS AND
COLLEGES IN REFERENCE TO THE BOOKS OF
Tur ECLECTIC SERIES" IN USE IN THE
PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS OF THE STATE.
The COMMITTEE on Schools and Colleges
have fully considered and investigated The
subjects embraced in the following resolu-
ton adopted by the House OF Delegates
| Whereas Il is represented that certain
hooks known as the Eclectic Series, no"
in use in the public schools. are. in csnse-
ouence OF their many imperfections and
! NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Nhht IVA
OF Virginia, lie it
BeSoi,ed. That the Committee on Schools
and Colleges be instructed TO make inves-
tigatjon as 10 the merits OF the said Eclec-
tic Series, and report the result to the
| House. with such recommendation as they
! think proper.
And In response to this resolution they
beg leave TO report that, after hearing the
views and testimony OF a number OF wit
nesses upon the questions submitted TO the
committee. among them men OF extensive
and valuable experience as teachers and
educators. aud men OF great distinction
and learning, the committee have reached
the following conclusions:
|. That the textbooks OF the series
known as 1.-THE Eclectic" and which have
been, along with other similar school,
books. approved and adopted by the State
Board OF Education under section G1 OF
cbapter rs of the Code Of 1873, with the
| exception of the school history OF the
United States belonging to that series. are
admirably adapted for use as textbooks in
/ the public schools. This committee, rely
| ing slightly upon their own examination OF
these textbooks, but far more upon the
opinions of able, disinterested, and eXpe-
| ltdiItJC, WIN OiN NSA''
petent to Judge OF such matters, are con-
WINGED that the readers, Biographies.
grammars, arithmetics, and algebra OF
the Eclectic Series were wisely placed by
the Board OF Education upon the lists from
which the local school authorities were au-
tborized to select the textbooks for the
children of the State. 1t surely cannot be
predicated OF any OF these textbooks that
they contain statements or representations
which render them unfi. to be used in the
public schools OF Virginia. So far as this
committee has been able to ascertain after
diligent and painstaklng inquiry and in
yestigation, all of the books referred To-,
with the exception of the history, are en-
tirely uneXCeptIonable, and rank among
the very best textbooks in use anywhere
in the public OF private schools OF this
country.
.. That the Eclectic History OF the
United States, while rs a textbook it is
well arranged aud written in style which
is well suited for the Use for which it was
designed, is not free from imperfections
and errors, particularly in the account
given OF the war between the States, and
The events preceding and succeeding that
struggle.
This history was written by lady Of
culture. talents, and thorough attainments,
who lived and still lives in one Of the
northern States of the Union. A careful
peiusal OF the book will suffice to convince
the reader OF the fact that its author was
in sympathy with the northern States in
that contest; but that the history was writ
ten by her with an earnest desire and pur-
pose to be perfectly impartial, and to do no
injustice TO the motives or acts OF the peo-
pie of the southern States, or TO the achieve
ments and prOwess of the soldiers OF the
southern armies.
While this is true, the narrative Is often
cOlOred by the sympathies and predilec-
tions Of the writer, and it contains some
errors and inaccuracies OF statement which
detract from its merits as history. It Is
doubtful whether the time has yet come
when an accurate and impartial historysbf
the Confederate war can be written by any
one, and il seeirs certain that no such his
tory can vet be written by an author who
lived within the lines Of either OF the bel
ligerents and shared with the actors in the
struggle in their hopes OF success and cha
grin over defeat. Ii would he difficult, IL
not impossible, for writer who was living
at the north during that war and in SYM
pathy with the Union cause to give such
an account OF the contest as would be ac-
ceptable 20 southern readers. OF entirely
satisfactory as a textbook for the children
Of southern parents.
1t Is proper, however, TO say that some
OF the most marked errors in the Eclectic
History are not more open to criticism than
similar inaccuracies in other school bis
tories of the United States written by
southern authors, to which the at
tentlon OF the committee was called;
and that the committee was assured
by the representatives OF the house
which publishes this series that the book
would be carefully revised, and that any
errors which might be pointed out and
found to exist in the narrative would be
corrected in future publications OF the
book.
Under the Constitution, the duty OF reg
ulating the selection Of textbooks for the
public schools has been deyolved princi-
pally upon the Board OF Education.
This Board, in the exercise OF powers
conferred upon il by the Constitution and
the general school-law during the incum-
bency OF the former Superintendent OF
Public Instruction, adopted wise regula-
tons In reference to the manner in which
textbooks should be selected for use in the
schools. Under these regulations, which
have been adhered to by the present
Board OF Education, three or four text
books treating Of the same subject are
placed upon the list adopted by the State
Board of Education, and from this list the
local school authorities, under proper reg
uations, make their own selections OF the
special textbooks preferred to be used in
the schools of their respective counties or
corporations.
In this way an opportunity Is given to
choose from number OF books recon-
mended that which the local authorities
may find to be best suited for their wants.
Under this regulation two other school,
histories besides the Eclectic have been
placed by the Board OF Education unnn