The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-06-09

Ing out from the schools, as heretofore, nav
! ing acquired the mere art OF reading without
having gained along With IL taste for good
books and the ability TO choose good books
Boston has had public schools for over ntty
years. Since the revival OF education there
! Boston il called the intellectual hub OF the
country, and is said to consider herself,
when Joseph Cook is thrown in and Ben
Butte, thrown out, the intellectual and moral
huu Of The universe. But two-thlrds OF the
Issues Of her public library OF 100000 vol.
lumes are novels, and three.fourth Of these
ltwu-lAirds, or one half its issues, are novels
VI the merely sensational and visionary
character" the lowest class OF literature INC
library affords. Why Is this; There can be
but one answer, 1t seems to me. Her school
chi!dren-the mass Of them-hAvo been
taught an art without being taught how &c
employ it wisely. They have equipped
Ithemsel,es with weapon with which great
good or srea! evil may be done, and are
using il largely in doing the evil
This evil viii h0giu to disappear when The
public library is made 10 supplement The
work Of all the grades FROM the lowest TO The
| highest. | would have 1t furnish to the low
est of the primary rooms the best oil juvenile
| literature sulled 10 the needs of the young
est, would have the teacher read to the Little
/ ones from such books AZ Least an hour eact
| day until they are able 10 road Tor tholn
selves. Then the school room should be
well supplied with books drawn from sht
, library Oh the responsibility OF the teacher
/ LIE. the children read these III schoOl mourn
| - considerable extent The privilege WI
soon come 10 be regarded valuable reward
and the deprivation OF IL y quito Sulliclch
|punishmeut Let the children take tht
books home to read under regulations thC
| teacher or board OF education may adopt
/ Let the children be made TO understand tina
| they will be held 10 reproduce the story o.
description read in their own language 81
far as possible. This will cultivate atien
ton, aud lead to habit OF reading as boy
sometimes play marbles for keeps.
Does some one say all this would take timt
aud the children would learn less OF spelling
arithmetic, geography and grammar? The.
would learn moro Of spelling and grammar
and us to arithmetic and geography, thel
would learn to love good books, aud knoWl'
edge Of these would follow. Then, the,
would learn more of good thought ana gool
expression of though, more OF good name
and good morals. They are fitting them
selves for citizens, and the state has not hal
tic need OF smart men that IL has OF homes
ones; and for every woman qualified 30 ira
verse tho country and lecture on Temperance
and other reforms, society leeds at least {
thousand to stay at home, take care OF thei
| children and tram them to habits that shall
not need reforming.
| Let the use OF the library suggested bt
! continued through all the grades, viii
changes Of course in books and methods o
using them conforming to the changing age
and attainments OF pupils.
| In This way generation can hardly pas
without working reform in the reading O
! The people-a reform second in importance
. Iltiy la tr reform, II indeed !