The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-11-10
The Newspaper In the School Room.
rGurottpq Spartan

From the beginning Of my fnll session I have used
about thirty copies Of the Spartan, as readers for my
Composition and Rhetoric classes. Ny plan 10 to have
q reading lesson Of the close OF each recitation, lts
length depending on the time VIC may have to devote
to L. We usually read the paper through In . week.
Only part Of tho class read each day, the other part
acting as critics.
I am well pleased with tho experiment thus far,
and I will mention some Of the advantages which I
think have been gained:
!. Marked improvement In reading. This Is perhaps
not ewing t. the newspaper, for the same amount Of
reading from books, conducted in the same way,
would probably haYe produced the same result. But
1t this result Is equal to that which might have been
obtained from the School Reader In the same time,
4. has this small advantage, It Ia the same result obtain
ed OF scost ~ somebody OF far less money.
character Of the reading Is novel and attractive. while
the endless variety Of style and incident is both
Of tho season l took the papers out OF
the Office in the evening, kept them until next day
and distributed them to the classes. Now, o large
portion Of the classes are always present at the open.
Inc Of the mails, and are clamorous for their papers.
8. A knowledge Of the men and familiarity with the
events Of the present time. The newspaper Is en-
~phntically the book Of every day life-an improlnptn
history OF to.dny-and It has oil the freshness and
reality Of an instantaneous view" AS We live in the
present and rs We must shoulder the responsibilities,
grapple with the duties, and meet the demands Of the
present, It seems that NC cannot safely neglect the
great book OF the present.
4. A facility afforded the teacher for incidental
teaching. Every Issue Of the newspaper confines
material for lessons bearing upon almost every phase
or condition Of life aud these lessons will often pre-
sent themselves In such a way that 1t requires little or
no ingenuity on the part Of the teacher 10 make them
pointed and impressive.
5. A sharpening Of the powers Of critical obscrva.
ton. Within the whole range Of literature, there is
no department that furnishes so ample Q field for criti.
cism Us the average newspaper. 1t Is q hastily con.
structed literary fabric intended to stanh only for q
day; and yet In that fabric may be seen every style OF
.. chitecture, from that OF the most inexperienced ap.
prentice to that Of the grand master Of the Craft. |
have found In 1t an unfailing supply Of material for
the application Of the rules Of Grammar, Composition
and Rhetoric. Even the Typographical errors for
which l never before found any use, have often been
turned to O good account in imrrcssipg the correct
orthpgraphy Of words on some careless speller. l ex-
pect soon to have some profitable exercises on the cd.
vertiselnents, In Illustration OF the rules0: capital let.
tiers and the position Of emphatic words.
l am satisfied that the whole course Of reading has
been highly Profitable to my clnsses-that 1t has been
In fact ust the thing they n-eded. But whether 1t
wonld be 80 well adapted to the wants OF other classes
teachers must judge. I think It probable that l may
meet other classes, even In the same studies, that may
not demand such o course. II so, l shall certainly not
adopt II with them.
l may DO allowed IN say in conclusion, without
disparagemcnt to any other paper, that l selected the
Spartan as q Reader, because l had all confidence In
the character aud li;egnry taste OF Its editor; and l
have rs yet found nothing In its columns TINT might
not with all ~propriety be read aloud before mixed
clssses Of young men and ladies'.