The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-14
THINKS SWINT0N is FAIR.
sUPT. AsH5ORE SEES NOTHING
PREJUDICIAL TO THE SOUTH.

May BE That the Committee of the
school Bonrd on Text Books May
Adopt Another History for the
Fifth Grade-Anther Book Was
Considered Before the Daughters
of the Confederucy Sent in Their
Communication Mr. Ashmore
Thinks the Fault with swintOn's
Small Book One of Omission Rath-
err Than COmnIssiOn.-Just to Both
Sides. Bat Necessarily Too Re
stricted to Admit of Full Account
of the War.
1t is possible there may be a change
in history text books in the fifth grade
of the public schools in Savannah. If
there should be a change 1t will not be
on account Of the objection raised by the
local chapter of the Daughters of the
Confederacy TO the present book, for Supt.
Otis Ashmore has had the matter under
consdera ion for some time. A meeting
of the text book committee Of the Board
of Education will be held next week, and
any changes in the books used in the
grades. if made at all. will be ordered by
the committee.
For several weeks the superintendent
and the principals of the various schools
have been engaged in the consideration
of a few changes. They Will have reports
TO offer the committee, though it is not
said there are any changes assured. Mr..
Ashmore has been examining another his
tory that has just been published. II is
possible he may regard it as having nd
vantages over swintons. the present book,
that will demand its use.
The ladies' of the chapter think Swim
toms history dogs not show properly the
causes and events of the war between
the states Mr.. Ashmore was asked for
his opinion as to the merits of the book
in that respect He turned to one of the
book shelves Of his Office and took down
one of the little offenders. 1t is a volume
of about 200 pages. The print Is large
and a wide margin is left for no .es and
guides for study. 1t is written in pleas
ing, story-like style, something that might
be supposed to catch and hold the at
tention of a child of the ages of those
who are in the fifth grade, that in which
the book is used.
You see there are some 20 pages"
said Mr. Ashmore. Now, this country
has 400 years of history. Taxing the period
of four years that was taken Up by the
civil war, We will see that or linarily II
should demand but two pages of a his
tory of 200 pages. But of purse the
events of the war are of vast Importance,
and those four years should hive consid-
cradle attention devoted to tn m. Let's
see what space Swinton gives { lem in this
little book. Here are twenty four pages
devoted to the war. | believe that is as
much as could be expected from a work
SO restricted this must nee sssarily be.
We cannot use more compref ensive book
for the children of the fifth grade. If
the book were larger than III we would
have to have another A b jok of more
than 200 pages could not be taught in one
term. Then; too the STYLE has to, be
considered II must be plea sing and of
an interest that will serve to elieve study
of its terrors for the young mind.
i fancy the fault of which the ladies
the commission. Restricted as he sO was by
his desire to make the book such as would
do for use among children of the ages of
unable to get in the names OF the many
generals of the Southern or the Northern
armies. The most important battles are
mentioned and their story briefly told
Where the FederaIs were the victors The
book gives them credit, and where the
Southern forces won they, too, have the
Chickamauga was a defeat for the Union
army, and 1t says the Confederates were
defeated at Gettysburg. / would not have
a text book on history that said other
facts on history, be they what they may
would not sanction the use of a book
that reflected on the South, nor would
consent 10 the use of one that distorted
history just for the sake of saying things
about the South that facts do not justify.
"A history l have under consideration
was written by a Southern man. 1t is a
new book and offers good features. II
may be adopted in the schools though
that will rest with the committee on text
books. have not made up my mind as
to the respective values of the books.
THE primary history of the United
States, in use in the fifth grade, does
not present the only opportunity children
have to acquaint themselves with their
country's story. In the seventh grade a
more comprehensive book Is used. II has
nothing to which the most devoted to the
Southern cause could object"
a communication was received by the
Poard of Education at its meeting night
before last from the local chapter. The
ladies object to the use of the book on
the grounds mentioned. Their communi-
cation was received as Information.