366 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



planet is a part. This is knowledge which the child can comprehend 

 and which the man can never fail to use with advantage. It is prop- 

 erly the first knowledge to be imparted, lying obviously at the very 

 foundation of all good education. 



How much has been accomplished of late in this respect may be 

 inferred from the following passage, which I read from the last report 

 of the trustees of the Public School Society of New York: 



A circular sent to the teachers of the public schools about three weeks since 

 resulted before they closed in not less than 10,000 elementary cabinets of geology 

 for nearly the same number of families, collected, labeled, and assorted by the 

 pupils, securing in very many instances a hearty interest and essential aid from their 

 parents and other friends. Public school No. 15 collected, prepared, labeled, and 

 distributed not less than 400 such cabinets in one day, etc. 



These are interesting facts. They show that the science of educa- 

 tion is advancing with the general march of improvement; and they 

 render no longer doubtful the propriety and importance of devoting a 

 portion of the means of this national institution to assist in carrying 

 forward even more rapidly this great movement of the age. 



The bill provides for the "preparation of sets of illustrations, 

 specimens, apparatus, and schoolbooks suitable for primary schools." 

 I consider these provisions of the highest importance. Next to the 

 furnishing of proper teachers is the necessity for proper instruments 

 of education. Indeed, I do not know but this should be placed fore- 

 most in importance, for with the best illustrations, apparatus, and 

 books, the teacher could scarcely fail to perform his part with the 

 greatest advantage and the best success. The propriety of having 

 "professors of the most useful sciences and arts" connected with the 

 " normal branch" of this Institution is too obvious to require a single 

 remark. 



The bill does not propose (for indeed the proposition would be 

 absurd) to give to such schoolbooks as may be prepared any authority 

 other than that which the character of the Institution and their own 

 intrinsic worth would impress upon them. But it is very certain that 

 able and experienced men, directing their minds particularly to that 

 object', would be prepared to give to the world something far better 

 than we now possess something in the way of elementary books 

 which would essentially contribute to the uniformity and efficiency of 

 general education. I think it will be acknowledged by all who know 

 anything of the subject that such books for primary schools are at this 

 moment a great desideratum. I know of no means by which greater 

 benefit could be conferred upon the people at large than by the judi- 

 cious preparation and cheap supply of such books. They would be 

 equivalent to a great plan of education, emanating from the highest 

 and best authority, causing the light of all modern science and mod- 

 ern improvement to converge into every country schoolhouse in the 

 land. 



