University of Virginia Library

the Teachers of Public Schools in the city of New-York.

We have examined the National School Manual, and
pleased with the plan. From our knowledge of the
various systems pursued in the country schools, many
which, upon the change of teachers, serve rather to
ard, than advance, the pupil, we do not hesitate to
commend the Manual, as having not only a tendency
uniformity and order, but also to save expense, the
complaint of which is without parallel.

om the Rev James Carnahan, President of Princeton
College.

Having examined the general plan of the 1st, 2d, and
parts of the "National School Manual," and having
also taken a cursory view of some of the details, I
satisfied that it is a work of no common merit.

The evils which this work proposes to remedy are
great and generally felt by parents and instructors
he expense of books, according to the course heretofore
pursued, is a very serious inconvenience; and the
of time and labor arising from the want of a constituted
series of instruction adapted to the capacities
children and youth, is a consideration of vast moment.

Comparatively few instructors are competent to select,
om the great number of books now used in common
schools, those adapted to the improving capacities of
their pupils. If a book, which he cannot understand,
be put into the hands of a pupil, he will lose his time,
and what is worse, he will probably contract a disgust
for learning. The great art of teaching consists in
beginning with the simplest elements, and advancing
gradually to things more difficult as the capacity of acquiring
knowledge expands, presenting something new
to arrest the attention and to exercise the ingenuity
of the pupil. To answer these ends, the work of Mr.
Bartlett seems to me well suited. If these small volumes
be thoroughly studied, I am persuaded that the
pupil will be better prepared to transact the business of
life, and by his own exertions to improve himself after
he leaves school, than if he had spent twice the time
under an ill-arranged system of instruction.

It will, doubtless, be difficult to introduce a uniform
system of instruction into our common schools; yet
the object is so desirable, that it deserves a vigorous
and persevering effort; and I indulge the hope that the
day is not far distant, when the "National School Manual,"
improved and enlarged by its able and experienced
author, will be very generally adopted.

From the Rev Charles S. Stewart, Chaplain in the United
States Navy—Author of a Journal of Voyages to the
Pacific, &c &c.

I have examined with much care, and great satisfaction,
the "National School Manual," compiled by
M. R. Bartlett. The opinion I have formed of its merits,
is of little importance, after the numerous and highly
respectable testimonials to its value already in your
possession.

A work of this kind has long been a desideratum in
the economy of our public schools, and I am persuaded
that the advantages which this compilation is calculated
to secure to pupils, teachers, and parents, need only to
be appreciated to secure its introduction throughout our
country. It will be found on trial, I think, greatly to
aid the instructor in his arduous service, while the pupil
cannot fail, in the use of it, if I am not mistaken, to
make a more rapid and understanding progress than by
the method now generally pursued. To teacher and
scholar the importance and value of the system, I doubt
not, would be fully shown after a very brief trial, while
the parent and guardian would soon learn its advantage
in an exemption from the heavy tax now imposed on
them by a constant change of books.

I should be happy to see the Manual in every common
school in the Union, from the conviction that the best
interests of education would be promoted by it.

I have examined with care and a high degree of interest
the work called the "National School Manual,"
by Mr. M. R. Bartlett, and am so well satisfied with its
merits, and that it will eventually be adopted in all our
common schools, to the exclusion of every other work
of the kind now in use, that I feel authorized to exert
my influence to have the work introduced forthwith
into my school.