The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-18
ITS ELEVENTH YEAR
MINNESOTA TEACHERS READING
CIRCLE AND IT'S
WORK
BOARD TO MEET NEXT MONTH
Six Thousand Teachers in sixty-Five
Counties Now Pursuing the
Reading Circle
Work.
BOARD TO MEET NEXT MONTH

President G. M. Cesander, of the Min
neSota Teachers Reading circle yester-
day sent out to publishers the annual
circular notifying them that the Board
of Managers will hold a meeting at the
Windsor hotel Friday, Feb Is, for the
purpose Of selecting books to be placed
on the course of study for the reading
circle during the present year Pub
fishers desiring to offer books for adoption
are invited to submit samples This be-
gins the eleventh year of the reading cir
Gle work in Minnesota, and it has attain
ed degree of popularity and permanent
cy which insures its place as one of the
educational institutions of the state and
it is now recognized by superintendent
and principals as an essential part of
teachers training.
The teachers reading circle was organ
lied by several progressive county super
intendents, Ex-Supt. A. E. Engstrom, Of
Goodhue county, long prominent in edu-
cational affairs in Minnesota being the
father of the idea in this state From
humble beginnings it has grown, until
today sixty-five counties are pursuing
the work laid down by the circle.
1t is under the management of the
county superintendent, each supervising
the work of the circle in his own county
At the beginning of the year each cir
Gle adopts two books for the years read
ing, one of professional or pedagogical
nature, and the other of a literary or his
torical character, or along some other
general culture line. There is no arbi-
trary rule governing the reading and
study of the volumes officially selected,
the county superintendent in each county
using his own judgment as to what
method is best suited to the needs and
opportunities of his teachers In many
of the counties the county association
makes up its monthly programme to con-
form to this reading circle work, choos-
ing for discussion topics treated of in the
books being studied.
In the examinations for teachers
state certificates the questions for the
teachers professional test are based upon
the reading circle books.
The great advantage accruing from
e,oOo teachers in Minnesota reading along
the same line at the same time is evil
dent.
The members Of the reading circle
board at present are: Supt. G. NJ &C.
sander, Winona: Supt. L. V. WILDER,
Winona; Supt. Hugh Leonard. Millville;
Supt. L. G. Wollan, Gienwood; Supt. Ma
tilda Ochs, Ckaska; Supt. A. T. Parke,
Duluth
Value of Reading Circle.
Assistant State Superintendent c. G.
Schulz. fer many years secretary Of the
reading circles, and one of the most en-
thusiastic promoters of it in the state,
says:
''The main value of the reading circle
lies in the culture training which it af-
fords. Tt offers a uniform course Of
reading for all teachers in our schools.
its aim and object is to build up stronger
professional spirit among the teachers,
to induce them to line of systematic
reading and study. and at the same time
build up a library of books containing
the best reading material in the line of
their profession. 1t is generally agreed
among school men that in those stares
and counties where the reading circle
work is pursued, and the reading care
fully and Systematically carried on, a
marked Improvement is noticed in the
character of the teachers professional
skill and ability. The reading circle has