New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-06
"FATHERS DO Not COUNT MUCH"
JAMES RUSSELL, OF TEACHERS COLLEGE.
TELLS INTERESTING FACTS.

The dainty white auditorium OF Barnard College
was well filed Yesterday afternoon by representa-
tive gathering Of the members OF the League OF
Parents and Teachers. Above the green filing or
the fireplace were series Of charts Illustrating
by zigzag lines after the nature OF a temperature
chart the comparative amount Of reading done by
schoolboys and schoolgirls from the third TO the
twelfth grades This illustrative OF the ad-
dress given by President James Russell OF the
Teachers College on Literature for school Chill
dren"
This important subject IS one 70 which President
Russell has given much time and research. While
professor IN tho State University Of Colorado. a
number OF syllahl we're sent throughout the coun-
try asking questions which might be useful IN de-
termining the source Of the most potent influence
exerted on the plastic minds OF children from eignt
70 fourteen years OF age The personal replies from
college professors. principals or Schools teachers
and others established the astonishing fact that
acbools and teachers were seldom mentioned by
the children questoned that fathers IN the family
dd not count for much; that over and over again
Il was said my father doesn't sympathize with
me-" and that the mother. although the mentor 81
the family of,times by a lack OF sympathy. Sent
the chnd elsewhere for the sympathy It craved
and must have. Books. Il was found. exerted the
greatest influence Of all Not always books az A
whole. but over and over again particular char
acter was followed and Initiated until it dominated
the child.
AZ a result OF Professor Russe'rs Investigations
Re makes the following deductions: First. that the
habit Of reading reaches its maximum with chill
dren when about fourteen years Of age; that girs at
ali stages read more books than boys. but that boys
read more short stories than girls that before
reaching the age Of fourteen. chiren are omniver-
GUS In their taste. reading everything they can ge
their hands on taxing 1t on faith. but that after
that time the taste IS formed. and books in one
special line chosen.
This IS shown by the fact that children UP to
fen or twelve years viii take the books provided By
the school library but after that age they are apt
TO want a wider range. and call on the larger IL
brar.es. Quantatyely, about as much reading Is
done in one town as IN another. but the quality
varies with the library patrOnized, showing that
It is possible to guide the reading By creating
right taste In literature
This trend in the right direction must begin early
as the taste IS formed before the high-schoo
period in this connection It was interesting 70
note that Mrs Acotts Little Men and Women
and Robinson Crusoe" were still the most popular
OF all books for children.
Professor Russell cliled attention % he fact tina;
IN many otherwise excellent home libraries there IL
a scarcity Of books appropriate for children from
ten 10 twelve years OF age. In conclusion. he de-
clared that teachers ana parents should unite In
taking care Of what the children read. and that
ideas OF the books most improving 70 children's
minds should be studied SO that the best literature
may be selected