The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1880-12-11
NEWSPAPERS In THE SCHOOL
ROOM AND FAMILY.


incalculable value. No other public
educators visit the family so often,no
Others are so numerous, or SO ready
to give instruction on any subject, at
any hour While the pulpit and the
platform are using the newspaper to
widen their influence to multiply
their power, our country school-teach
ers ought to be sufficiently progressive
to use this same element for like
purpose in the educational work.
The first step to be taken by teach
ers in utilizing the newspaper is to in
troduce it into every school-room,and
to see that it finds place in every
family. The second step to be taken
is to keep the people posted, through
it's columns,as to what the schools are
doing,
Speaking of the newspaper in the
school-room, President Gregory,of the
Illinois State University, says: "Ev-
ery editor is teacher,-a teacher Of
men as well as children. The news
paper is the freshest of books. 1t is
the latest history, the newest science
treatise, the current political economy,
the manual of the arts, the text book
Of living philosophy. That school
room, other things being equal, will be
brightest, freshest,and most productive
in practical learning into which the
newspaper penetrates.
But some one will say, How can the
newspaper be used in the school-room?
] answer, it may be used in various
ways. A very interesting and profit
able reading exercise may be had, once
ortwicea week, by permitting each pu
pill to read from a newspaper an arti-
Gle of his own selection. 1t is evident
that such an exercise will create an in
terest, and carry with it a freshness
not seen or felt in reading from regu
lar text books. Pupils who take part
in these exercises will search the news
papers for interesting articles, and will
take pleasure in making thorough
preparation to read them. In this way
they will gain Information on vari
ETY. of subjects, and they will learn to
read as they talk, when tn y have some
thing important totell.
These weekly readings may be made
still more profitable by inviting the
patrons of the school to be present.
The teacher should embrace these oc-
casions to convince parents that news
papers are important aids in the edu-
cation of u family. The following ar
ticle, from the National journal Of
-Eiucdtion, Boston, may be of service
to the teacher in the presentation of
this subject
"A school teacher who had been a
long time engaged in his profession,
and had witnessed the influence of
newspapers on family of children,
writes as follows:
IL have found it to be universal
fact, without exception. that those
scholars of both sexes, and all ages,
who have access to newspapers at
home. when compared with those who
have not. are
Il. Better readers, excellent in pro-
nunciation, and consequently read
more and Understandings.
''2. They are better spoilers; define
words with ease and accuracy.
-. They obtain practical knowl-
edge of geography in almost
half the time required by others, as
the newspapers have made them ac
quainted with the location of import
ant places of all nations, their govern
ment and doings, on the globe
n. They are better grammarians;
for, having become so familiar with
every style in newspapers, from the
commonplace advertisement to the fin
ished and classical Grafton Of the
statesman, they more readily compre-
bend the meaning of the land con
sequently analyze its construction
with accuracy.
rs. They write better compositions,
using better language containing more
thoughts, more clearly andscorrectly
expressed.
IS. Those young men who have for
years been readers of newspapers are
always taking the lead in debating So
cieties, exhibit more extensive knowl-
edge upon a greater variety ofsubjects
and express their views with greater
fuency, clearness, and correctness"
In attempting to introduce papers
into the family, the teacher may, in a
quiet manner, make list of the names
ofpatrons who are subscribers to news
papers, and list of those who take no
papers. If he will manage this matter
skilfully the former list may be length
ened, and the latter list may be les
sened until a newspaper shall be found
in every family. When the list is
completed he should give notice of
the fact through the local papers as an
incentive to other teachers to work in
o similar manner.
President Hewitt,o one of the nor
NAL schools of Illinois, suggests an ex-
cellent way of using the knowledge
gained from the newspaper, and of
keeping the school posted on the news
of the day. He says: 'sTen minutes a
day, for two or three days in the week,
may be very profitably spent in our
public schools in the way of a gener-
al exercise on the news of the day.
A good plan is to let committee of
one or more pupils prepare a report