Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-09-28
To the Friends of Good Reading.

by a committee or county Superln-
tendents appointed for that purpose
and systematic effort made to en-
roll the young people as members of
the State Reading circle. By means
of this state supervision and control
the work can be made more uniform
and systematic ndthe cost of thebooks
is much reduced. To become a mem
Der of the circle means simply to get
the books and read them. The books
may be owned by the school collect
lively at public expense or they may
become the property of private indi-
vidualS either within or outside the
school, the object being merely to
make the books accessible.
The books selected for 1886 COM
prise thirty volumes which, bound in
heavy boards, will be sent to any adj
dress, freight prepaid, for only $40
cash. The same thirty volumes, in
cloth binding, will cost only $3.50,
half sets in either binding at proper
tionate prices.
These thirty books include works
on geography, history, travels, litera-
pupils of the second to the fifth reader
classes and many of them will be
found interesting and instructive to
both teachers and parents as well as
pupils.
The character of the books and
class of subjects treated are in line
with the regular text books and their
perusal will ably supplement the
work of the teacher, greatly assist
her in keeping order, create greater
interest in the school, promote punct-
ual and regular attendance, as well as
increase the general intelligence of
the pupils and others. / am sure no
argument is necessary to convince the
people of TregO county of the i'm
pOrtance of placing good, instructive
reading matter within reach of our
children before they have acquired
taste for the trashy, sensational or
even vicious literature so common.
have no doubt every district of
the county will want these books, but
the question of how to pay for them
will need answering. The state SUI
perintendent says the district board
has the undoubted right to purchase
them at public expense. This is the
easiest and probably. the fairest way.
| hardly think it the best plan for
some reasons. If the pupils are al
lowed to contribute toward the eX-
pense they will have a proprietary in
tereSt in the books, will be more likely
to read them and take better care Of
them. A school exhibition or enter
tainment may be given for the pur-
pose of raising a part or all of the
cost. A committee of older pupils
may solicit subscriptions from teacher,
lc md l,
may be given. / am sending circular
letters to teachers and others describ-
ing the books and suggesting plans
for raising the money. After you
have tried these no doubt district
boards will assist in raising the few
dollars you may need to complete the
fund.
After you have secured the books
you must have place to keep them.
A box nailed to the wall and provided
with door or curtain will suffice dur
ing the school year and the books may
then be taken to private house for
safe keeping. The books should be
named name of district) and num-
bered and the teacher should provide
or be provided with a small blank or
memorandum book a page of which
should be devoted to each volume by
name of each pupil who has read the
book named at the top of the page.
Hand this book to succeeding teach
ers until all books have been read by
all pupils although intended for one
years work only.
TO get pupils and parents interest
ed in the books let the teacher read
an interesting selection from some of
them every day. One or more COM
plete volumes may be read this way
during the term. Let the teacher
show pupils how the books will assist
them in the preparation of the regu-
lar lessons. If these books are not
read and properly cared for you will
not be able to put any more library
books into that school and failure
will be largely the fault of the
teacher.
Teachers and superintendent have
no financial interest in these books.
They urge their purchase and use as
a public and professional duty and ask
the assistance of parents and school
officers.
Pupils, parents, teacher and officers
are invited to call at the Office of the
county superintendent and examine
the sample set of books.
These books may be ordered by the
superintendent. He can arrange to
give some time on payment if desired.
You should have the books as soon as
possible. Begin now. / am ready to
assist. A. S. PEACOCK.
County Supt.
Wa-Keeney, Kan, Sept. %, 1895.
Notice.
The Badger Lumber Co., of Wa-Kee-