The Yale expositor., 1894-11-16
The Pupils Reading Circle.

Undoubtedly, The Pupils Reading
Circle is destined to become perma.
nent affair in st. Clair county. The
good work was fairly begun last season
and we are determined to continue il
until prosperous circle is organized
in every district.
The object of starting these Circles
is twofold; firstly to make the acqui.
sition of knowledge pleasing and at
tractive; secondly, to cultivate taste
for good reading among our young
friends.
Now, in the schoolroom the daily
routine of study soon becomes wear
isome unless the teacher is specially
gifted in her manner of presenting
subjects. The work coming in mo.
notonous sameness makes Jack a dull
boy. After day in school his nature
demands recreation. Let him have it,
but turn it to his profit. Give him
this supplementary reading in pleasing
variety and attractive shape and he
will soon compass a wide range of
topics, cleaning useful information at
every step. Meanwhile, his first thirst
for knowledge increases until he be-
comes student. Being thus diverted
he escapes the blighting effects of bad
company, his evenings are spent at
home and with scarcely any parental
restraint he develops into the upright
and respected citizen.
But some parents will cay "such
talk is all nonsense. 1t is enough for
my boys and girls to learn to read,
write and cipher. This extra reading
cuts no figure" Are you sure of that?
There is nothing right. The majority
of these young people are bound to
have reaoing of some kind, either
pure or impure. This trashy, vicious
reading is seen almost everywhere;
the five-cent and ten-cent novels, the
sensational story papers whose heroes
are criminals that should be serving
time. No wonder there are so many
Jesse Jameses, so many outlaws.
Such literature has n corrupt influence
over the character,
Just here comes in the quaintest
part of the teachers work. 1t is for
her to help root out the bad and sub
sttute therefor the good and useful,
thus slowly but surely developing the
germs of good citizenship. The safety
of the Republic demands that these
children of so many nationalities
should be Americanized and where
public schools? 1t is really the teach
er's place and duty to open up to
her pupils this world of beauty, point
out what is grand, curious and inter.
esting in nature, and illustrious in
patriotism. Who can estimate the
benefits of such influences. Surely
their value cannot be reckoned in dol
lars and cents. Let every teacher be
wide-awake enough to lead in this
work, remembering that she is build
ing for eternity and hence should use
frst-class material.
COURSE OF READING.
Second grade. Friends in feathers
and fur, price 30 cts. 2. Cats and dogs,
price IL cts.
Third grade-l. Grandfather's Sto-
ries, price q cents. .. Heroic Deeds,
price 80 cts
Fourth grade-Familiar animals and
their kindred, price 90 cts. 2. Hooker's
Chlld's Book OF Nature, part |, "A cts.
Fifth grade-Eggleston's First Book
in American History, 90 cts. 2. Serb
ners Geographical Reader, 60 cents.
Sixth grade-l. Living creatures of
water, land and air, 80 cents. ,, Child's
Book of Nature, part III, Al cents.
lands, 40 cts. 2. SCOTS Ivanhoe, 80 cts.
Eighth grade-1. Some neighbors
with claws and hoffs, price "a cents.
.. Herrick's Plant Life, price 60 cts.
These books are all highly instructive
and intensely interesting.
ADVANCED COURSE.
First year, ninth grade)-Irving's
"Sketch Book" price 20 cents. Scott's
Lady of the Lake, price 30 cents.
Second year tenth grade)-Shakes-
peare's Julius Caesar" price 20 cents.
SCOTS "lvanhoe," price 80 cents.
Third year eleventh grade)-Macau-
lays Essay on the Earl of Chatham.
20 cts. Shakespeare's Merchant of
Venice" 20 cts. "Sir Roger DE Cover
ley's Papers," 20 cents
Fourth year twelfth de)-Emer-
sons american Scholar" 20 cents. |
Arnold's "Sohrab and Rustum," %
cents. Dawden's shakespeare" 80
cents.
These are the works of standard
authors and require thorough and |
systematic study. Any person be.
tween the ages of five and twenty-one
may become member of the Mich |
igan Pupils Reading Circle by pur-
chasing one book and agreeing faith |
fully to do the work, and also reading
thereafter each year as laid down in |
the prescribed course. Membership |
cards of u different color for each |
grade will be issued and badge of a
neat and tasty design will be furnished |
each actual member. These will be
given free with the books which may
be obtained at the bookstores in Port
Huron. Every pupil having finished
the course will be awarded Certificate
of Completion signed by the State
Secretary.
As soon as organized each leader
should send Il list OF members to the
Commissioner who by way of encour-
agement, will present the same to the
county papers for publication.
Il. Is. FAIRMAN,
Co. Com. Schools.
80 \