The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-14
SCHOOL HISTORIES.

o1hOOL
The report of the committee on histories
and historical matter, made at the
Charleston reunion of the Confederate Vet
Grams, is an admirable one from every
point of view, and ought 10 give very gem
efal satisfaction. For years there has
been dissatisfaction in parts of the South
with the histories used in the public
schools. Sometimes this dissatisfaction
has found expression in one state, or part
of state. and at other times in another
state. Different histories of the United
States are used in the public schools of
the South and there is constantly pres
sure somewhere in behalf of a new his
tory. Only recently the United States his
tory used in the schools of this county
was quite severely criticised by an At
lanta Confederate veteran. 1t seems,
however. that the faults to which he called
attention had been. in a great measure,
corrected in a later edition.
It is only natural that fault should be
found with histories of the United States
compiled for use in the public schools. for
che reason that owing to the small amount
of matter they contain only the brief
est references can be made to some Of
the most important events. Judgments
differ as 10 what should be used and what
omitted. 1t is very difficult matter
therefore to write short history for use
in public schools that viii give satisfac-
ton to everybody.
The committee of the Association of the
Confederate Veterans in It's report says
that there has been a decided improve
ment in the tone of the school histories
which have been written or revised since
the committee has taken ho.d of the mat
ter. They are much less sectional and
controversial and much more liberal and
patriotic.
The committee says, and wisely, that
1t has not thought it advisable to select
any particular book for condemnation or
to recommend any particular one as the
choice of the Confederate veterans. 1t
believes 1t best to leave the door open
to all writer's whose works are truthful,
just, patriotic and liberal to all sections
of the country"
The committee goes even further, and
says that Il does not recommend that the
Confederate veterans should exercise any
system of censorship over the histories
used in the schools. but it thinks the as
ISOLATION should use its influence to have
"banished from the schools books which
teach false lessons, either of fact or sem
timent, or which are In any way partisan
or unpatriotic in tone"
II seems to US that the limit fixed by
the committee for the exercise of the in
fiuence of the association in the matter
of school histories is the proper one.
If the members of the association were to
attempt to exercise a system of censor
ship over school histories 1t would in
vite an endless amount of discussion and
trouble and would encourage rival pub.
fishers 90 annoy members of the associa-
ton with applications in behalf of their
publications.
The committee suggests, and the sug-
gestion Is a good one, that a sub-commit
tee of three be appointed IN each state
to examine school histories IN use in the
state, and to correspond with the authors
and publishers of such histories with the
view Of correcting any Objectionable fea-
lures 'ney may SohVaiu' anu inoAih6 Hu
ditions that may seem to be advisable
these subcommittee to report to the gen.
eral committee. month before each re-
union, the scope and result of their work.
If this suggestion of the committee Is
acted upon faithfully it is probable that
there will not be much more trouble
about school histories, because authors
and publishers will come as near as they
can to complying with suggestions for
the Improvement of their histories, their
, chief desire being to stick as closely as
possible 90 the facts, so as to give salts
faction to those upon whom they depend
as patrons.