History for Medford schools.
A Medford teacher has recently prepared such a work, advance sheets of which have been submitted to us for inspection.
They give evidence of much thought and labor in their preparation, quote authorities, and refer to many writings.
As a matter of course, the printed histories of
Medford are frequently quoted or referred to. After sending the author our criticisms, we gave the sheets to former
President Hooper, which has led to the preparation of his article in our present issue.
Mr. Brooks' work was one of the earlier town histories of
Massachusetts.
He said in its preface, ‘The gathering of these annals has been too long delayed,’ and prophesied ‘discovery of facts’ beyond his reach.
With no
local records of the first forty-four years, it is no wonder that he fell into some errors.
He was an excellent annalist and wrote interestingly.
In his day, and since, he had not the credit he deserved for his work for public education, he was even railed at in the public press.
It is not the thought of our present writers to belittle his work, but rather to correct the manifest errors, and, so far as possible, to stop their perpetuation.
We earnestly hope that the work of the
Medford teacher alluded to will be completed, and that our local history may be properly taught in our public schools.
And now that over thirty years have elapsed since the Usher revision, which covered so little of the thirty previous years, should there not be interest awakened that will secure a new and up-to-date history of our ancient town and modern city in 1920?
[p. 49] 
