Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-26
CHOSE TEXT BOOKS.
hoard or EDUCATION TO ENTER
upox rms woRi<.
OPINIONS OF TEACHERS SOUGHT.
Those Who Are Competent 20 speak
Asked 90 Pass on the Merits of
Books submitted-Ncw Histories
Certain.
Certain.

The state BOARD OF Education. consist
ing OF the Governor. the Attorney Gene
raj. and the State S,Iperintendent of Pub /
10 Instruction. VIII meet Tuesday the |
2Sth at n.S0 a. NJ, to select q Superin-
tendent OF schools for James City county. |
II Is thought that OF this meeting the |
board will also ak a date for beginning |
the consideration and. adoption OF books
for use in the public schools for the next |
-Four years.
The question OF the adoption OF books |
Is one OK the most delicate and difficult
with which the board will have TO deal
-Four years ago the Board OF Education
made practically no change in the list,
90 that the present list is In effect the
same as the one adopted eight years ago.
During this period many new books in
an the branches of study have been pub
Mshed, many Of them being so greatly
superior to their predecessors as TO have
created new era in educational progress.
THE OPINIONS OF TEACHERS.
In order 20 form an intelligent Judg-
uent as 70 the merits OF the numerous
books 10 all the branches taught IN the
IuutlC SCHOOLS. AAG O1lAl VI Il Np-AS
Instruction has obtained from many OF
the most successful, progressive, ana eX-
perlenced teachers OF the state their opin-
.ous AS 10 the relative merits OF the books
submitted for examination. THESE teach-
ers have been taken mainly from the pub
lie schools OF the State, but enough nave
been taken from the private high schools
and colleges 20 enable the board TO have
the benefit of the judgment Of many OF
these
All these teachers are specialists on the
suh5ects on Which they haye been re-
quested 10 report, and their celecuVe
judgment viii doubtless be Of great as
e.stance 10 tho board IN making an intel
Ngent selection of textbooks for the pub
lie schools.
While il has hitherto been usual in
many Of the States TO obtain the judy
nent Of competent teachers as 20 tho
merits OF the books 10 be used in the
schools this is perhaps the first time such
a thing has been done in Virginia, ana
the departure Is hailed with delight Dy
most OF the teachers of the State, who
desire TO see the public schools made
more progressive and efficient. The fact
that the books have had TO pass the
ordeal of a critical examination by eN-
perienced and accomplished teachers mas
had a tendency to prevent the presenta-
ton Of inferior books, and yet the open
competition has caused greater number
OF good books TO be presented Tor eX-
animation than ever before
THE REPORTS COMING IN.
The reports OF the committees are nov
coming in. and Il is thought that they
viii an be in by the 1st Of July. WINE
the board has no power to prescribe text
hooks for the city high schools. yet 1t i
thought that the present board Will Ioi
low the example Of its predecessors an,
recommend a list Of books Tor the mgr
schools. -.
viii be conservative in the matter
changing textbooks for the cohlihol
schools. making changes only Where III
Interests of the schools and the cause
SOUND learning demand that such cnanee
should be made. Barness Onited o'a1e
History will have 10 go ana so WI
sone others that are now on the hs'
Ne Lees and Or. JOness histories nav
hem endorsed by the Confederate Ne'
eraus' History Committee, and IL IS pro
bable that these books VIII pun
e6orted There are said 70 De othe
NOTED states histories of great nltIdI
cd reoeeo,sical value that VIII De Ie
commended TO the board ior auopt'oH'
will, NOT ADOPT SINGLE LlSI'
s,,,e efforts will be made 70 induce IN
board 10 adopt a single book hsI' puI
e not thought that such pm
win prevail, as the country schools' w.
sbort terms need different books frol
those suited 90 schools Of longer terms.
II is said that influences are AT WoI
10 induce the board to make no c4 I,.list
IN tie present list, except In O n.le
States history, on the GROUND OF eConOi -,
but the competitive puDllshelS O.
tbo,,gh 20 be willing 70 take up the o.
baoEs noUr1n the hands Of the pupils an
Sivs them new books In exchange
such reduced rates as TO opVlate III
serious objection. ,,..aa ,
The Board or Educauon' SoInpoa.a
a. IS OF men OF such high character al
,or,i,g worth. with the light gathert
SI 'o,r''i the best sources before them ma
he re relied on TO make wise selection 9C =,
hooks and start the public schools Oh III. u
commonwealth on a new era OF progre
and prosperity.