Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-06
u,sroRy THAT IS HISTORY.


The virginia Grand Camp Of conieue,
rate Veterans, soon to meet here WIZ
give especial attention to the hlS'o''
question.
Through the efforts Of this orgah'@a-
ton the list OF eligible histories aoop'-
Cd for use in the public schools OF VIZ
e,nia has Of late years been ehlaisou
90 embrace two or more southern poohs'
THAT was a first step: but the Camp
n,os NOT able TO eliminate from the hst
the histories that are obnoxious 10 ou'
xoon,o nv reason OF their unfalrhess'
%, wa doubt II the camp ever VIII
consider its work done until that 10 ao
complished. And the time is now SOON
"a arrive when present contracts WIN
book companies will expire. and wneh
the State will be free to drop any Ola
book or adopt any new one.
II is TOO much TO expect that Vir-
einians should spend great sums vi
money every year to have perncious
doctrines instlled into the minds Oh
their youth.
We would have the Grand Camp ap-
nroach this subject calmly. We would
have 1t hear the statements or well
informed Virginia educators. who, set
ting aside the clamor of book compa-
MES and their agents, will, upon their
responsibility as men, as parents as
true patriots, decide If there be any
history upon the list which ought TO De
excluded therefrom.
If a competent committee, after ma
ture elaboration, should reach the con-
clusion that there are on the list op-
noxious books, and that opinion should
he confirmed by the Grand Camp, we
cannot but believe the State Board OF
Education will accept that advice ana
refuse to renew those contracts.
We repeat that it is impossible to con-
cejye of the people of Virginia Willingly
admitting themselves to taxation for
the maintenance Of schools in which
false historical doctrines are taught
WHY. TO do so, In the face of intelligent
and dsinterested advice, would be TO
imperil the very safety Of our public
school system!
When the eligible book-list has been
purged then the State Board OF Eouca-
ton may consider what new southern
histories should be adopted. In THIS d.
rection, we think, liberal latitude ought
to be allowed. We should like to see
every southern history, and every other
honest and fair history, admitted to COM
petition-a competition where teachers
and scholars may decide which is the
best. Accuracy and teachableness are
the requisites to be sought for, and we
would rather put this question to the
vote of teachers and scholars after fair
trial than to any other tribunal on
earth. Let them try all the unobjec-
tionable histories and may the httest
survive. Their judgmefA, after trial,
would be infinitely preferable to the
opinion of the best experts in the world
before trial.
So. we would recommend the Grand
Camp of Confederate Veterans Of the
Department of Virginia to aim to Sc
cure. first, the exclusion Of such books
next. the freest possible competition to
those that are void of offence. One
county or city may adopt one school
history; another may adopt another but
we feel sure that in the end that his
tory which is best adapted to the in
struction of southern youth will have
the largest sale in this State.
To be sure, the changing from one his
tory to another will cost a good deal
| of money, but this cannot be helped.
| Our situation necessitates this expense,
| and we do not believe the people will
complain; indeed, we know they will not,
| f they are satisfied that each change
means Improvement. And SO. in the
course of not many years. we should
probably see the great majority Of Vir-
| ginia schools, academies, and colleges
teaching history that is true TO the
record: that gives credit to the honesty
and intelligence of the southern men Of
1861, and that is as interesting as it is
instructive to our youth.