The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-09
A New Educational Movement.
(By Dorothy Stiles.)

Durham, N. c., Nov 8.
AT this time of the year when the
doors of hundred thousand schools arc
opening to receive the youth Of the
land, the mothers and fathers and ambi-
tious young people who must stay at
home are hungering for educational OPP
portunities. They realize that other
things being equal, position usefulness
and happiness are in proportion to cul-
ture, and they long for some practical
plans that will help them to turn their
spare moments into school and college
terms Complex modern life and the bat
tie for materisl existence leave the
world no more of the old spare time
leaisure for mental and spiritual cul-
turc. And so everywhere people are
huEgering for intellectual food and crav-
ing mental stimulus and would be CRATE
full for some plan that would offer guild
anee and help. These reflections came
TO me forcibly dring a delightful outing
this year at Bay View. the great summer
educational centre, in Northern Michi-
gan. l found there and studied new
educational movement which l feel sure
many readers of the News and Observer
will be glad to know about.
A few years ago Mr. j. NJ. Hall, a
young lawyer. was at the head of a large
young peoples Bible class and in his
desire to give the members a better pros
rect in life he established reading club
which soon became widely known. 9th
crs from far and wide began calling for
his plans, and to meet the growing de-
Eand for self-culture plans, the Bay
View Reading Club was established. Mr..
Hall still remains at the head of the
work, which he directs from the head
quarters in Detroit, Michigan, and with
out counting publicity the organization
has not only spread ever this country but
has entered Canada, Mexico. Germany.
China and the Hawaii Islands. Mr..
Halls genius in conducting club studies
is everywhere being recognized 10y Wo-
mems clubs. Of which more than three
hundred and fifty have in the past fifteen
months adopted the Bay View course.
The plans are simple. but there is III
telligent system; and history and litera-
turc and travel are deity joined in a
reading journey of most delightful
character. | learned that last year the
members were on a study tour of Italy,
Greece and Switzerland. but this year
cur own country. the pest OIL all ldDuS,
will be studied. in its history, literature,
art and institutions. A month will also
be spent in Mexico.
During the summer | often met at the
annual gatherings at Bay View the NOM
bers from many States and always heard
from them the most enthusiastic reports.
The members were mostly like myself,
bread winners, and the course has been
carried on in the brief pauses in the
days occupation. But daily | heard in
the elegant conversation and saw in the
intelligent faces the marked transforma :
tion wrought when people read for pur-
pose This is not the place to enter into
description of the plans of the Bay
View reading course,-a card addressed
to Mr. Hall will always secure them.
am concerned more in reviving the hope
of the busy women and aspiring young
people to again take up the pleasures
of books and study, for which this read
ing course seem to me to offer the best
practical plans. ] am sure a great many
who arc looking for feasible suggestions
for winter reading will thank the editor
for publishing this article.