Remembrances - McGuffey's Eclectic Spelling Book

Several weeks ago I wrote about some old school books given to the Township Historical Society by Brian Campbell. The gift also included a report card once belonging to Milton Schneider, who attended District School No. 6. "Swails School," located on the intersection of Acton Road and the Michigan Road. (Closed as a school in the early 1900s, used as a store, and torn down to make way for I-74).

Among the books that Brian purchased and gave to us is a McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Spelling Book. It once belonged to "Miss Hattie Jones" who signed her name, and wrote the date, "Nov. 30, 1886." We have other readers, the "Eclectic Educational Series" compiled by William Holmes McGuffey, an Ohio minister who became well-known for his books designed for the school children of the 19th Century. (The word "eclectic" means "chosen or picked out," a quality characteristic of the readers, made up of selections from classical authors, such as Longfellow, Washington Irving, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Shakespeare, and the Bible.

The McGuffey Readers are still popular with some schools and home schooling groups. The books have their own website, with much interesting information about their history and their originator, William H. McGuffey. My mother attended country schools in Ohio, and dearly loved her McGuffey readers, committing many of the poems to memory.

The Speller was said to be especially popular. It seems to me a no-nonsense book that showed a young child no mercy. In one speller, dated 1865, the lessons, which include words from many categories, are designated by Roman numerals from I (1) to CCIX (209). Good training for a crossword puzzle worker who might find the clue "Nero's 591" (DXCI).