Lvt Punitfion of 3Stwers

  By custom and under sanction of law certain
studies are pursued in the common schools of every
state. Spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, geogra-
phy, history, grammar, civics and physiology are
the subjects usually taught. The school authorities
select the textbooks which shall be used in each
subject. The readers are the only texts used in all
schools affording opportunity for distinct ethical
teaching. The history of our country should give ideas
of patriotism; the civics should contain the primary
notions of government; the physiologies should in-
struct the pupils in the laws of health; but the reader
should cover the whole field of morals and manners
and in language that will impress their teaching
indelibly upon the mind of every pupil. While the
chief aim of the school readers must be to teach
the child to apprehend thought from the printed
page and convey this thought to the attentive listener
with precision, these efforts should be exerted upon
thoughts that have permanent value. No other texts
used in the school room bear directly and positively
upon the formation of character in the pupils. The
school readers are the proper and indispensable
texts for teaching true patriotism, integrity, honesty,
industry, temperance, courage, politeness, and all
other moral and intellectual virtues. In these books
every lesson should have a distinct purpose in view.
and the final aim should be to establish in the pupils
high moral principles which are at the foundation
of character.
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