Neglect of economic education in Webster's 'Blue-Backed Speller.'(Interview) From: American Economist | Date: March 22, 1995| Author: Nelson, C. Louise | COPYRIGHT 1995 Omicron Delta Epsilon. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

It is likely that for more than a century, Webster's Blue-Backed Speller had more influence on the intellectual development of school-children in the United States than any other textbook used in the nation's schools. Referring to him as "Schoolmaster to America," one critic observed, "It was the Speller that conquered the land. . . . No other secular book had ever spread so wide, penetrated so deep, lasted so long."(1)

The purpose at hand is to examine this remarkable textb...