The Advocate and news., 1897-12-01
COOPERATIVE READING CLUBS.

COOPERATIVE READING CLUBS.
The Advocate and News is desirous Of
giving through a department devoted to
the best interests of the home something
more than the usual miscellany selected
for reading in leisure hours. The Advo-
cate and News believes that instruction
should he furnished with amusement,
and wishes to supply department for
tie home that will really accomplish
more than a mere desultory purpose. II
especially aims to work in new fields
and to do what 1t can in aiding progress
where this duty of the newspaper has
hitherto been neglected,
The mission of the newspaper as an
educator is becoming regular feature
of present-day journalism. OF course
the Newspaper is essentially an educator
in broad sense, but Of late the propr-
city o. its direction Of secondary and
higher education has been manifest in
the work OF this nature undertaken by
leading newspapers. The Chicago Rec
ord's home study circle Is notable ex-
ample, and the Cosmopolitan University,
although an outgrowth Of a magazine
editors plan, may perhaps properly be
cited as another. But all EFFORTS of this
sort so Ter make for educational advan-
tagcs foc those who live in cities more
than for the residents of the rural com
nunities. 1t is really simple matter
for worker in the city who has the
time and energy to avail himself of the
free educational privileges afforded by
the libraries. lecture courses, etc., but
the farmer and his family have nothing
other than the usually meager substi-
tute5 offered in the home reading fur
nished at their own expense or the occa-
sion0l lyceum meetings for the young
people.
The Advocate and News believes that
the plan which is presented elsewhere
as outlining educational work and af
fcrding the best reading through CO.
operative reading clubs will meet with
the approval and support of many who
are anxious to obtain the privileges it
offers. 1t furnishes definite means Of
carrying out an educational course and
ct the same time gives access to library
privileges end magazine reading to those
who could not otherwise obtain them.
The formation of cooperative reading
and educational clubs as a means Of Sc
curing The above advantages Is the plan
OF Mr.. M. M. Bruner, whose Observa-
tions as teacher and newspaper worker
brought the conviction that something
might be done to help persons in rural
or other districts to fulfill ambitions to
continue their educations and also to OBJ
tain the best reading of the day. She
has evolved plan which does this with
out requiring an extensive outlay Of
money, the chief drawback in anything
of similar nature hitherto proposed
Her ideas have been submitted to num-
ber of leading educational workers and
have received their endorsement. Mrs
Bruncr will conduct the department in
the Advocate and News TO be devoted to
the Cooperative Reading and Educa-
tional Clubs, as they will be known, and
will assist in the formation of local
clubs, supplying the necessary literature
and Swing any advice and direction that
may be needed. She will prepare the
course of instruction, and any communi-
cations relating to the formation Of clubs
should 1t addressed to her.