Evening star., 1896-12-31
THE FIR H LIBRARY
Second as an Eduestional Factor Only to
the Schools.
n0yveIrs Commenda-
An Aidi to Pupils.

Superintendent Powell iD his annual re-
port has the following to say regarding
the free public library: '"The public
schools, indeed, all the schools Of Wash
ington, are to be- congratulated on the
prospect of a free public library in their
MIDST. The teaching that fails to train
the learner how to use books advantage
ously and to give him decided liking for
the uEe Of books fails in one Of its most
important purposes The kind Of teaching
Lhat accomplishes these desirable results,
however. cannot be done without the
books ! think it may be truthfully said
that large percentage OF the value of
teaching in many schools is lost because
OF OF the lack Of this means of properly train
ing the learner.
"As you know, and as is clearly shown by
the detailed statement of expenditures of
tnls once for years, much has been done
to supply books for study and reference,
ror broadening the teaching, and for prop
cry training the children of the public
schools in the use of books When I say
nuch mas been done, I mean much in re-
lataon to the whole cost of maintaining the
scncois. We have in the various grades of
sehools besides text books 10000 volumes.
lhese books are In almost daily use, hav-
ing been selected for the express purpose
OF supp!ernenting the work done in the
selected because Of their relation to the
subjects taught and for the purpose of
leading out from these subjects into new
but related fields to be Interpreted by the
knowiedge already in the possession of the
children; and for the purpose of leading up
10 the studies pursued in the school on new
nnes; FOR the purpose of giving additional
meaning, additional application to what
as first learned, and, above ALL for the
purpose of fastening the subjects firmly in
the mind as possession, making them a
part of the learner.
THE child is first taught by contact with
the subject itself. as plant or animal or
ether object of nature. contact with and
study of the social conditions Of his sur
roundings Then he is made to state in
cral symbols, English idiom, what he has
learned. Afterward he is led to read from
written and printed symbols what he has
said. In this way he learns the first use of
book His next step is to read what 9TH
ers have said on this same subject. Having
in his mind the concepts, the Interpreting
nuclei for such reading. for such study, he
reads intelligently, profitably, and with in
terest and delight.
'1t should now be possible for him to be
thrown in contact with new lines of thought
proceeding from this knowledge, amplifying
it, applying 1t to the affairs of life, and
properly refa ting it to other departments of
learning 1t will be seen from the above
how necessary are care and wisdom in the
selection of the supplementary work of the
school. 1t will be seen that careless Sc
lection of reading matter, or rather a care
less use Of reading matter, will tend only
to confusion. superficiality. and the acquf-
sition of disconnected unrelated knowledge
Such knowledge, If not altogether useless
is seldom of great forceful value to the pos
essor. The books that have been pur-
chased for the schools under your charge
found in the normali school. high schools,
grammar schools intermediate and pri-
mary schools. have been selected in all
cases for specific purposes. The accumula-
tion Is one Of grea svalue to the schools,
ard may say that these books are used in
telligently and efficiently. as rule.
"A public library in the city may be
made to subserve the interests of education
in corresponding though much broader
way. The public library, If properly Sc
lected and managed and intelligent1y used
by those who manageiand teach the schools
Of the city. will be not simply great ad-
vantage, which is much to say, but may be
made correlative branch of education sec
ond in value only to the schools themselves
"a powerful elevating force that will stead
lily and surely, though silently and unos-
tenta tiously, raise the people to a higher
intellectual plane. a plane of sounder judg
ment and greater efficiency. May We not
hope from expressions of interest in pub
lie schools by those who have worked for
the establishment of this library and fos-
tered its beginnings so earnestly that there
will be in the immediate future. by the
establishment and growth of the great free
library, the means of broadening the edu-
cational facilities of the city by an efficient
and comprehensive use Of 1t in our schools?
THE child, or the man, reads on a plane
OF his ability to appreciate His ability to
appreciate is Influenced, IL not determined,
by the way he is taught; that is by the
way ne Is made to get information and by
the way he IS made to use it after he gets
1t. If one arm CT each high school and one
arm of each department of grammar, in
termediate and primary schools can reach
a weH-seiected free library, the child who is
taught right will look upon that library as
his greatest boon, his best friend, and the
place Of his most fascinating occupation.
Il respectfully bespeak the special inter-
est Of the board Of education and of the
honorable Commissioners, already manifest
In many ways, in the promotion of the pub
lie library.
THE teachers library begun several
years ago Is found to be valuable ad-
1unct to the work of making the teaching
OF the schools rational, broad and efficient
1t has grown to contain between 5000 and
I,oOO volumes. An average of 2jO volumes
are In daily use. When it Is considered
that this is technically a pedagogical Ii
brary, 1t will be seen that the results herein
named are OF the most encouraging nature
and are testimony to the high character
OF those engaged in teaching your schools"