Day in the Life

Jan 31, 1859

Journal Entry

January 31, 1859 ~ Monday

31st I spent a part of the day in the presidents office
looking over the papers. the remainder of the day in
the office. I attended the regency at President Youngs
during the evening. D. H. Wells spoke upon the subject of the
Deseret Alphabet urged the adopting of the Deseret Alphabet
into our scholes as soon as possible. The subject of introducing
a uniform class of school Books into our Territory Brother
O Hyde presented an Epistle for this purpose He recommended
Rays Arithmetic Towns speller & Definer 1, 2, 3, & 4 Readers of
Towns & his Grammar school Reader, & Kirkham Grammar
D. H. Wells Advocated Websters spelling Book But Towns
was prefered by most of the board. I informed the board
that I could get from Sanbon & Carter of Portland all
those works which they were manufacturing at a cheap
rate that that was the class of Books now in use throughout
the New England states, this was done through the common
consent of a convention of teachers who sat at Portland
President Young spoke upon the subject of the New Alphabet
He said I think we are the Head & not the tail and now
if I had my way I will tel you what I would do I
would put Books into the hands of children in this Territory
printed in the Deseret Alphabet I dont want many Books
to learn children. I told the Bishops when I first came

to this country to build their school houses on a plan which
I gave them there has been many wings built but not
a centre building in the Territory I would calassify all
the children I would put the Little children all together & I
would take a girl or some one capable of teaching them & I
would have a good Black board and I would teach the Alphabet
upon that one book would be enough in the room I do not
believe in putting Books into the hands of Little children to
pour over & make them sit on a hard Bench untill they ake
all over. If I was a Teacher I would make them rise up &
march around the house and I would try to interest their
minds so they would delight to learn but many persons
who have learning sufficient to teach a school yet they are
not fit to teach children as soon as a child does sumthing
that does not pleas the teacher He begins to pound the child
with a ruler over the Head & back or slaps him in the side of
the Head with his hand this is not the way to treat children
You put a work into the hands of a Jerman Frenchman
Dane or Sweed or any other Nation printed in the Deserett
Alphabet & in a little time they will all read and spell alike
much sooner than they could learn a new language several
of the brethren spoke D. H. Wells said that he was satisfied
that the Lord had inspired the mind of President Young in this matter

People

Browse people Wilford Woodruff mentioned on this day in his journal. Click on the person's name to view a short bio and other pages they are mentioned on or click on "View in Family Search" to view their FamilySearch profile.

Young, Brigham
1 Jun 1801 - 29 Aug 1877
3440 mentions
Apostle, Family
Wells, Daniel Hanmer
27 Oct 1814 - 24 Mar 1891
799 mentions
Apostle
Carter, Ezra (Jr.)
29 Apr 1804 - 11 May 1887
177 mentions
Family
Sanborn, Oliver L.
abt. 1808 - 1881
65 mentions
Hyde, Orson
8 Jan 1805 - 28 Nov 1878
693 mentions
Apostle

Events

View selected events in the two months surrounding this date in Wilford Woodruff's life. Click on the dates to jump to that day in Wilford Woodruff's journal.

December 1858
Wilford serves ninth term as member of Territorial Legislature.

Jan 31, 1859