Letter to Brigham Young and Council, 24 February 1849
Cambridgeport Mass
President Young & Council,
Dear Brethren,
Since I have
been travelling in this eastern country which is so Highly famed
for the education of their children, I have endeavoured to bear in mind
that portion of the epistle which councils the Saints, "To secure at least A copy of
Evry valuable treatise on Education" &c, &c. I have reflected much upon this subject, &
the situation of the Saints in the valley, the thousands of children that will be
congregated there. And not ownly the importance of their having school Books to
read & learn from, but the importance of their having such Books as will attract
their attention, and be adapted to the capacity of children, & youth. Also of intro-
ducing a class of Books that will be accepted & recommended by the Presidency or
a Board of Education which they may appoint, as their would be a great Benefit
derived in Having a uniformity of school Books introduced throughout the
schools of the Latter day Saints. I have not supposed that the Saints would
vary materially from the world in introducing the first rudiments of education
into their schools, ownly to make the best selection they could. The Saints
would of course differ from the world & Christendom in their religious teaching
which in some measure would be a seperate branch from teaching the common
branches of education.
It has been under this view of the
subject that I have taken pains to investigate the present system of education
in New England, And obtain copies of some maps, charts, Books &c and the
report of their board of education. The State of Maine & others are making
great improvements in their system of education, introducing new modes of
teaching, using the Black board, making New school Houses upon a New plan, ventilating
at the top of the windows, making pleasure grouds &c &c. A copy of the drafts I
forward to you with this letter which you will find is a Book entitled
Report of the Board of Education of the State of 1847. A New series of Books
are now being introduced through the U. S. which are prefered before all others
they were got up by a company of Men in the city of Portland Maine
by A board of Education which was composed (it was said) of the best talent,
of the country, who collected a copy of all the works in use in the United States,
and out of them & their own branes formed the Books. The name of the Readers
1, 2, 3, 4, Are called Town`s Also the speller and Definer, and Analysis. His name was given to them
as He was the author of much of their contents: yet the Board made great Alterations from
