Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-15
NEWSPAPERS IN THE SCHOOLS

ITO assist the studies of children by having
them read the newspapers in the public schools
at stated hours, and under the supervision of
teachers; is not new idea. 1t is on trial in
different parts of the country, and has just
found warm, practical advocate in Superin-
intendent Luckey of the Pittsburg public schools
In a recent convention of Pennsylvania teach
ers. that gentleman opposed the use of any and
all spelling books, because he contended that a
word standing by itself was dead while in a
sentence it had life. He ridiculea the reading
lessons to be found in the school hooks, and
wanted the newspapers substituted for the
prosy readers, dealing i'll unrealities and teach
ing nothing. lie stated that in Pittsburgs pub
lie shoots the geography was only a book of
reference, the daily newspapers being the means
by which geography is Taught. Through be-
ing made familiar with the news, the children
associated places and events readily, and sell
dom forgot either.
Inasmuch as Superintendent LGckey Is neither
the proprietor nor editor of a newspaper, his
unsolicited testimony TO the value of news
paper educator for the young we'll
the old, must in fairness be accepted az UNI
preudiced Naturally he feels deep interest
in the pupils under his charge, and is de-
sirouS of doing all in his power to further their
advancement Taught by experience that the
journals of the day are better mediums for
the requirement of geographical knowledge
than the text books on that subject. he seusi-
bly, put aside the latter.
If the pupils of our schools can be tau ht to
read more readily and Understandings In the
columns OF newspapers than in the pages of
the tiresome, dull reading books. the journals
be met with opposition. Many men and women
are firm in the belief that senseless reading is
the only proper mental food for children. As
a rule the Juveniles know more of the practical
workings of life than they receive credit for.
Fairy tales may find firm believers in the nursery
but they are laughed to scorn in the school
room. Boys take an interest in what their
fathers talk of, be it war, politics. or financial
panic, Permitted 10 read about these engrossing
topics the lads would put animation into the
reading lesson. instead of perfunctorily groan-
ing and whining through II, as under the ex-
sting system. Superintendent Luckey's out
spoken advocacy of newspapers in the schools
cannot well fail TO challenge the attention of
educational boards and school controllers in
our large cities"
This extract is from the Printers
Circular, a monthly published in
Philadelphia, and it is introduced
here mainly for the purpose of
showing how mischievous really
valuable idea may become when
it is turned into a hobby. There
is no question that a newspaper of
the right character can be made
very useful in the school room;
but the inquiry is very mutually
suggested, where the newspaper is
published that can reasonably
be thought fit take the place of
speller, readers and geography, and
do the work of alp
Teachers in this part of the country
viii ask, too, what the series of
reading books can be with which
the schools of Pittsburg are thus
afflicted, and who is the unfort-
innate author of these books filled
with senseless reading?n