Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-22
NEWSPAPERS AS TEXT BOOKS
Method Adopted by Prof. Lynch in
Missouri Public School.

Prof. w. H. Lynch of Salem, Mo-, spent
several days in Washington this week.
Prof. Lynch Is regarded as of the
greatest authorities on newspaper statis-
tics In the country. But this is not his
greatest claim to fame. He has established
in the public schools of his home town a
system which has not counterpart any
where in the world. Under this system
newspapers in a large measure take the
place of the ordinary text books Friday of
each week, in the branches of history,
geography. literature, etc, all these being
taught from the files of the press of the
country Magazines and weeklies enter
into the curriculum of this extraordinary
school. also, and it is said the results at
tanned are something remarkable In ex-
planning the methods of his school and
what led to the adoption of the news
paper. Prof Lynch said:
Il discovered years ago that no text book
was equal to the newspaper as a means for
taking a knowledge of the actual, practi-
cal and up-to-date world into the school
room.
History. geography, civil government,
algebra, chemistry and the entire academic
curriculum teach only theory Of the world
and its facts. The real drama of life, in
Its varied forms of commercial, political
and social relations, must be seen and
learned through the mirror Of the news
paper. Let every Friday morning be de-
voted to the reading OF the newspapers
Have all the pupils supplied with papers
No two pupils should have the same Issue
OF the same paper, SO as to prevent con-
fusion by pupils reading the same article
Each pupil should read but one article SO
as to be thorough. and this plan will give
a greater number of pupils an opportunity
to recite what they have read. When a
sufhcient time has been given for care
full reading of some interesting article, the
signal should be given to quit reading and
have all the papers folded, so as to prevent
the pupils from seeing the articles as read:
and each pupil rises and tells the substance
or what he has read-an excellent plan for
securing attention and improving the mem
DRY. Thus the story of the outside world
fresh from the lives of busy and practical
men and women, comes into the class room
and the lessons of real life are mingled
with the dreams and poetry of the stu
dents young heart.
BY this plan the pupils soon learn to
be strong friends of the press Have the
pupils wave the papers a calisthenic
drill After the papers have been read
give them to families to be used on the
walls OF their homes and under their car
pets Thus the pupils, after having made
the contents of the papers a part of their
own mind. will be surrounded by the ma
pers themselves-over their heads at their
sides and under their feet. Printers ink
moves the world
Attention has been attracted to Prof
Lynchs school from all over the world
from time to time editorials in educational
magazines have discussed the method at
length and recently the educational ex-
perts OF Europe have taken up the matter
ana have devoted considerable space to
discussions OF Prof Lynch's system. In
Vienna and Sweden extended notices have
been given the school. Prof Lynch was
here rounding out a tour of the east he
was making during the school vacation