The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28
WHIT CHILDREy OUGHT READ
Charles Dudley Warmers Views on Juvc-
nil. IL nj LII

Charles Dudley Warmers Views on Juve-
nile Literature.
Charles Dudley Warner, in a recent
address before the Public Education AS
ISOLATION. said:
When l went to a district school as
boy | got more bad air than good in
the school-room. and the instruction was
OF the same sort.
1T Is as bad TO put weak thought into
the mind OF a child as II is to shut him up
with bad air. The idea OF beginning the
young mind with something worth while
is growing among teachers. There are
always persons ready to give US what
We want, 50 as soon as literature for
the young was wantel our shelves were
covered with books about Little Johnny
and the Pig and Did the Pig Have a
Curly Wigg and Did Johnny Love the
Pig?
/ Finally we have discovered that we
need something else. and at the same
time we made the great discovery that
the teacher himself must know something
himsolf-a revelation TO many people. The
teachers are beginning 10 understand that
they must themselves be In the stream
Of literature in order to teach It prop
erly
Rather than all the dates in history
/ would have a child learn TO love ono
sweet poem, even minor poem. that
made him want another. Teachers are
beginning TO understand that it is as well
20 open door that goes somewhere. in
stead Of into a hole in the ground.
The door should lead into the world Of
ideas, which is the world of history also.
Literature Is not an accomplishment,
something TO round off an education. but
il is the vital substance OF the child 5
mind. The sympathy with real litera-
ture should be put into the child's mind
very early, for it is marvellous how apt
the child is 10 take the wrong thing.
How easy il is when the child IS from
10 10 to turn its mind to what really
develops and calls out the natural ca
pacity 4 child at that age is interested
in any real story, and any real story is
good literature.
| never knew a child in an intelligent
family who was not absorbed in the sto-
~ Of the odyssey. and who did not take
al the genuine things with eagerness.
Why, the Little Pig is nowhere, and
Jimmy compared with Ulysses IS nowhere
in the interest Of an ordinary child.
"The non-literary teaching is bad not
only for the child. but for the teacher.
We should all be idiotic if we had to read
ordinary textbooks for year. The
teacher, II he is TO grow, must feed on
real things ana the child knows at once
the perfunctory things. He then thinks
Of outdoors as life, and why should not
life be indoors2
Let John Burroughs talk. and life is
indoors. lie does not write for children.
| wish nobody had ever written word
for children. The silly people who
try 10 write down 10 children had better
Try to write down 10 themselves. OF
all the worst influences Of modern life
ore Of the most diluted is what Is called
childrcn's literature.
Il would give a child no literature l
did not like myself. Not that children
should read Kant. or John Stuart MIL
or even Turgenien or George Eliot, but
there is plenty that is fun OF life. that VIII
strengthen and invigorate the mind. that
a child can understand. and that will call
him. as he goes along. into the higher
walks OF literature 4 word about a
kindred subject. While I am a great
advocate Of kindergartens, there is too
much babyishness there The child is
quick 10 take impressions, and they mix
colors dreadfuly there"