New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-06
SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
A SUBJECT OF GROWING IMPORTANCE DID,
CUSSED BY SUPERINrENDENIS of
FDUCATION IN MANY STATES

a., tho nuhlic schools and the older persons III inc
communities is coming more and more 10 DE unue'
stood bv educators. and strong efforts are pei"e
made all over the country to improve the schooi
svstem in that respect. Recent correspondence by
nersons interested in the subject has brought TO-
eetber a great mass of testimony from schooi super
intendents showing the high estimation which 'ies
Mace upon the efforts to introduce the best read
ing to the youth of the land. In regard 10 the ''
suits which have followed the Introduction Vi
.chool libraries in Wisconsin, the State Superih-
tendents emphatic declaration, as given IN MS ias'
biennial report, Is: County superintendeh's' pe"'
ers school officers, parents and pupils IN al pare
OF the State testify with remarkable unanimty that
the libraries where they have been testeo u'uei
fair conditions. have infused new life ana sp'rn
into the school work. and doing more good III
proportion to their cost than any other money e
pended for the schools" With reference especialiy
10 the matter of the small school libraries, ne cais
attention to the value of even "a few simple ana IN
terestng volumes for children that shall lead 10
lifelong love for good books and so lay the founda
ton for later sef-education" furnishing to the chill
dren of people who cannot afford TO purchase DOCKS
something that in value will approach home IL
brary And he continues:
II is sometimes urged that in these days OF cheap
literature every child has enough good reading
This is not true Ii Is true of the children OF
share Of well-to-do families. but the travellers OF
ha hvpoads Of the country districts who visit the
crowded homes where the conditions 0 me go az ord
narv found will few or no books except wv v
copies of meagre, uninspiring TEXTBOOKS. me c,
in reading to read easily; they have no opportunity
TO learn by actual experience now noUm tn Them
light instruct and inspire BOOK means 10 s ,ng,n
n collection Of tasks which are theoreucaly useiu
but practically 0gf cdren the me-
chanica part Of reading and have omitted tne ON!
Of making th Of marx MAXIM It asase fail
ing to give love for wholesome anu '"Sp''''e
reading.
ship Libraries" published at Madison Wis. uSS2)'
contains the following suggestions addressed 10
county superintendent and town clerks by the
same wel-known educator. Oliver r. Wells:
Won will notice that the books named are largely
for Younger pupils Such volumes are selected
because younger pupils are more quickly uaiheu
to enjoy reading r ana books ' espec ADAPTED
to younger children. while the young ma niue
pleasure in books beyond their grade Experience
library is founded the simpler books do the most
good.
At meeting Of the New-York State Teachers
Association held at Saratoga in 1890 a committee
on literature appointed and to this committee
was assigned the duty Of preparing graded lists
of proper reading matter for children" AS the
chairman of this committee an educator of much
experience George f. Hardy. with the assistance
of the leading Librarians and school superinendents
throughout the country prepared list of q" books
which published with his notes and Introduction
in 1892 and in that year adopted by both the New
York and New-Jersey State teachers associations
In his introduction Mr.. Hardy says
America is Nation of readers: but an examina,,
ton of the book stores, the circulating Libraries ana
majority of our grown-up people read ANYTHING be-
You'd the periodicals and the newspapers nine-t,nths
allure is the curse of the chiid's intellect and the
ba1e Of the sh e and 9a Tapd sa are
striking testimony alike to the deterioration OF me
popular taste and to our defective scheme OF eg
teaching the child how to read and gives no thought
to what he reads. 1t was the contemplation OF the
strained reading of what Mr.. Frederick Harrison
erary garbage and bad mems worst thoughts that
drove him to excIaim that he could almost reckon
Rled In these days of rapid muiicaton Of
books t is idle on our p cren NOT poH read
Don't read that" This constantly increasing
S %aT of 81 thnRng has often the effect Of driving
him to the very danger we would have him aVold.
pedient much more successful to say Read this
Instead of the rasping Don't read that! ohi i
very dependent and Initiative that they will read
and since it is not altogether in our power TO de-
stroy the glittering temptations when allure men,
multiply our counses for reading the best books.
To start a child right in the matter OF reading. to
sG jm With ana careSy yu selected lists Of books
right kind. is to give him an education and 70 pui
him in the possession of moral and intehectuai
ideal.
Rhode Island sends large amount Of testimony,
from which the following items are taken almost
1T random:
warwick.-A free library is an extension Of the
public school system. and through It's means ono
may @ an src saVen Fl FREE pGB a
ries are now firmly established containing at the
with a circulation Of 81. 1888 volumes among 2,$7s
patrons. including $40 new patrons during the
yes5 h sdSoo work begets in
pupil the habit of reading then the habit Of good
home in school. and in the public library. Every
place of average size and intelligence should have
here State
aid in obtaining one.-(Commttee.
Henry sabn, Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
ton of the State of Iowa, presents his views forc
bly, and with much feeling He writes:
1t is one aim Of the school to develop right mind
edness in the pupils That it fails 70 40 this Is the
the pnbc school system regard this as the vu
nerable point and are massing their forces against
are in a measure. untrue. The main charge. that
we fail to make our teachings reach out into rhe
OF the child school cannot be separated from his
.ams s of at he wafe y aFs
made; when they are in opposing or diveTging
and become the character Of the The school DOL
library promises to f9Fn1h the MISSING hook INK he
hands of the child carries on the work Of the
the same lessons of virtue and morality which the
child hears from the lips Of the living teacher
Edwin f. Palmer. Superintendent of Education
Of the State of Vermont writes:
II child youth Is ever in need Of guide 1t
Is in making a choice of what he will read II has
been proved in many schools that a competent
teacher with few choice books can do much to
aid the pupil in forming taste, love Of good lit
erature A good book has often been a more po
tent and benefcent force than any other in i'm
parting a moral and intellectual impulse to this
young Dr. McCosh, In his Psychology" says:
History and biography reveal incidents which in
cite the Imagination. and youth should be made ac-
uuainted with them. Those who would train
the mind to it's highest capacity must furnish to
the young the record of deeds Of herosm. OF benev
olence. o self-sacrifce, of courage resist the
evil and maintain the good. Friendship. fidelity,
patriotism and piety must be presented in their
most attractive FORMS.
Prior to o. per cent Of all the people In Mass
achusetts had access to free public libraries There
were then i03 small rural towns without library.
An act was passed in 1880 in that State giving all
such towns 500 for library condition that the
town would annually appropriate $50 for the same
purpose There ought 10 be free public library
In every town In this State. The benefit the
schools would be incalculable
l.. f. Wolfe Superintendent of Public Schools
Of the State of Missouri. reports:
The library work has gone forward with most graft
flying results. The reported having been
raised by private enterprise for the year ending
Lime Ic 4 hnrG fntna La