Middletown transcript., 1896-01-04
our REDING TABLE.
By ARTHUR R. sPAID, wILMrNa-
TON, DEL.

ing enticing in the way Of good reading,
great opportunity presents itself TO
the teachers, especially in the rural
districts, to do much thai parents have
neglected.
My purpose is to explain the plan
which has proved successful In the
Alexis I. dupont sciionl the past year.
also hope to encourage other teachers
to Introduce the "reading table, into
their schools.
Our school enrolls over two hundred
pupils. two districts having united.
The building is new, and contains Eve
rooms. At the opening Of the school
last September. suggested my plan to
the commissioners for a s'reading Ia.
ble," which met with their hearty ap.
proval. A nice oak table and sixteen
chairs were placed in the well-lighted
aleove in my room, and the following
papers and magazines were subscribed
for: Century, Cosmopolitan, Review Of
Reviews. St Nicholas, Harper's Week
ly, Harper's Round Table, Scientific
American, Ladies' Home Journal,
Youths Companion, Little Men and
Women, Our Times, and the School
Physiology Journal.
All the older pupils were urged to
make use of the reading table. The
little folks were allowed to look at the
pictures. Any one was privileged to
take paper home after school and
keep it until the next morning, by
first having a record made Of it. Even
children too young to read we're never
refused this privilege. One evening a
modest little girl from The primary
school came to me for "bookn to take
home She had selected the Ladit g Home
Journal.
"But Mary" / said 'you can't read
that?" "No, but mamma can read it to
me-" was her quick reply. OF course
she was allowed to take the paper.
The childs interest had added to our
list most desirable reader-a mother.
On stormy days, when the children
could not go to play, the reading table
proved to be happy institution; and,
indeed, it was nearly always surrounded
by group Of readers before school in
the morning and at the noon hour.
The reading table proved of value in
many ways. 1t furnished the teachers
with material for morning talks"
and gave to their pupils store of val
liable information Oh many interesting
topics which they utilized in their es-
say-writing and Friday afternoon reci-
tations and readings. Certain articles
relating to history, biography, and in
ventions were marked with colored
pencil, and the upper classes were re-.
quired TO read them. Frequently ex-
animation questions we're taken from
what had been assigned for reading.
To further encourag &c reading, some
times certain per cent. was allowed
for stories and articles read. For the
month of May my classes averaged
thirty stories and articles; which was
allowed to shorten the examination in
grammar. By these easy designs the
teacher was able to get all pupils in
terested in the papers without their
really suspecting it.
Each pupil kept record of what
he read during the month, setting
down in neat order the name of the
paper. the title of the story, and the
name Of the author. These reports
were handed to the teacher at the end
Of the month for his inspection.
The monthlies we're always left on the
table until replaced by the new num-
bers; the weeklies remaining for fort
night, when they were filed away,i not
too badly worn.
In popularity, Harper's Round Ta-
BILE stood at the head OF the list, fol-
lowed closely by St. Nicholas and the
Youths Companion. The Scientific
American perhaps stood next on the
list.
Who can estimate the value Of our
reading tablepn Who can tell what its
influenee will be even upon the little
children, the s'picture readers" as |
Call themP It evidently meansmuch to
those who are so fortunate as to enjoy
its advantages. 1t will turn many idle
moments into hours of pleasure, and
will influence many one for the bet
ter.
Every school can have "reaGipg
table," The teachers desk will answer
in many cases as depository; and If
your school board refuse to appropriate
the necessary funds for the reading
matter. do not be discouraged Call
your pupils together and lay your plans
before them. They will volunteer with
enthusiasm to go among the neiglbors
and collect the amount required. Or
you can get up little entertainment.
There is no reason for failure.
Every teacher should have at least
one paper TO place on the reading
table. The past year 1 furnished
daily, as did one or two Of my assist
ants. "A few years ago ! subscribed
for the Century for my school. II was
a good investment:
Show an interest in the matter, and
you are certain to receive aid. A lady
who called to visit our school had her
attention called to the reading table.
She af onca hccame intereste ed and sent