Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-06-05
Our School Text Books.


To the Standard
All will admit that school text
books can. be improved. Nearly
everything that the farmer uses has
been improved. The old fashion
wagon-bed, shaped like canoe, could
scarcely be given away now. But
many people have been so anxious to
remedy an evil in our school text
books, that they have actually aggra-
waited the very evil which they in
tended to correct.
Rays Arithmetics have been in use
over forty years. When Mr.. Ray
first published his books, there was a
very erroneous impression among
many good mathematicians, concern
ing ratio. DR.. Davies, Professor of
Mathematics at West Point, had pub
lished that the ratio of A to B, was B
divided by A; or the consequent di-
vided by the antecedent. This was
wrong. The ratio of A to B is A di-
vided by B; or the antecedent divid-
ed by the consequent. Many authors
of arithmetics, thinking that SO emf
nent man as DR.. Davies could not
be wrong, adopted his error. All au-
thOrs of late works have seen their
error, and have corrected their books.
All late books agree that the ratio of
two numbers is the antecedent di-
vided by the consequent.
The word "Rood," as a denomina-
ton in square measure, has become
obsolete. No surveyor pretends to
use it; and it is very wisely left out
of all late arithmetics.
The present mode of making ex-
change for sterling money is entirely
different from the method in use
when Rays first books were publish
ed. At that time, a pound sterling
was counted 81 40, and when it was
at par, it was reckoned at about 81
per cent premium. All commercial
reports now state the pound sterling
at just what it is worth, namely,
1856, $4.S7, or 1887 5, as the case
may be. This change in the manner
of doing business with English mer-
chants is carefully noted in all of
Rays new arithmetics. There are
several other changes which render
Rays new books far superior to his
old books. 1t is time that a change
in arithmetics should be made. Rays
New Arithmetic, Third Part, and
Rays New Higher, are very suitable
books to be used in our free schools.
Many would prefer Goff's Arithme.
tic, which is very excellent work.
1t is well to leave part of the an.
swers out of a book in order that q
pupil may exercise his skill in prov.
ing his examples; but Golf has lief;
out too many answers. Golf has 8
very excellent article on the method
of surveying the public lands; this i:
also very useful to all pupils who ex
pect to live where townships, ranges
and sections are used.
There is more confusion in oul
reading books than in any other tex
books used. McGuffey's books hav,
been in use for half a century. The
author has revised them not less thar
| five times. McGuffey was a teache
in Ohio for many years, and was (
Professor of Elocution for some tim,
in the Virginia University. He Ger
tainly ought to know what gooC
reading book is, and how to max,
, one. So many reading books wer
constantly appearing, McGuffey wa
compelled to improve his books b.
revising them. His New Reviset
Readers are paragons of excellence
, In style of binding, in beauty of type
, they are not excelled. It took Dr
! McGuffey long time to. learn tina
There should be some script in on