Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-01-25
FOR THE SCHOOLS.
The Text Book Commission,
Through Gov. Keslie, Sub
nit Their Report to
the Legislature.
THE WORKS CHOSEN
A change Recommended IN Read
ers. Grammsrs, Biographies,
=, Arithmetics and Word
Books. Why the
Changes Should
be Made.

Ing Of Prof. A. c. Logan, r. b. Howey
and j. II. Myers have submitted their
rerort to Gov. Leslie, aud through
him to the legislature. The commits
sion reports that having carefully ex-
amined the text books now in use,
enuumeratiDg them, recommend
change in the readers, grammars,
Biographies, arithmetics and word
hooks. McGuffy's readers are recon-
mended for the reason that they are
essentially reading books, "learnlng to
read" In the lower grades. and read.
ing to learn" in the higher grades
stsnd out In bold relief. A number of
reasons are given why the commission
considers these readers the hest, each
grade being commented upon and
criticized fairly and impa't italy. The
fifth reader, II 10 clsimed owing TO the
number Of beautiful poems, instruc-
tive essays. scientific and biographical
sketches from authors of classic liter
ature, has no superior as reader. and
the mechanical excellence 10 superior. |
Short studies In English No. 2 10 also |
recommended ~ q text book whose |
distractions the children will master
unconsciously. Green's elementary
grammar is recommended AZ being al
book Of solid merit. Sharp transitions
in tesching the five logical elements"
are scrupulously avoided. The method
used is essentially inductive. and the
fragmentary truths are collected by
systematic questioning into clear and
compact definitions. IL is clsimed
that q study Of this book will cultivate
the faculty Of graceful expression and
eliminate many common errors from
the pupils writings and conversation.
Shoup's Graded Speller IL chosen be-
cause pronunciation and the use OF
words are taught in connection with
their orthography, scholastic rubbish
and the unusual words of the old-time
"speller" are graded TO the normal
growth OF the cbildf vocabulary, and
because the grades Of the readers have
. perfect counterpart in the speller.
Fisk's arithmetic the commission
thinks the most available for the rea-
son because the law of development
and growth OF the young mind TO the
object methcd Is freely used. because
oral and written exercises are COM
bined throughout II add in the treat
msnt Of each subject mOcel solution
is given with a concise and lucid ex'
PLANTATION. The number two arithme-
tic contains thorough review Of the
abstract and applied examples OF no
obsolete terms, sriihmetical puzzles
and paradoxes are excluded and top
les which belong exclusively 30 the
higher departments Of this science
and are OF minor Importance to gram
mar schools have been placed In an
s'addendan and msy be taken up at
the option Of the teachers or princi-
pals.
Barnes elementary geography 10
considered the beat work Of any ex-
amIned on account Of the salient
points of mathematical. physical and
political geography peculiarly adapted
TO the apprehension Of young children.
The map questions are simple aud
questions requiring descriptive an.
swers are appropriate, the geography
is an entertaining history and the
maps accurate. What is said Of the
elementary work IL repeated in men
tioning the complete geography by
the same author, which Is considered
the most perfect work Of the kind
known.
Young Peoples Physioloey-now
Pathfinder No. 2-is recommended
because II is conservative and free
from the errors found IN other works
on this subject II confines strictly TO
the requirements Of the law both IN
letter and spirit. and Ia incisive treat
ment Of the effects Of alcohol and nsr-
cotIcs on the human system is with
out extrsvagant sentiment and har'
monises with the teschiugs Of science
aud the highest authorities Of the
medical profess,on. These merits slso
obtain In steele's Hysisnic Physiol-
ogy, another book recommended.
For osl~ids schools other rsc"'''-
mendations are made which are In