The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-26
THE NEVER EDUcATio NAL
METHODS.
The Auxiliary Plan Embodied in the
Young Eolks' library.

Young FOlkS -'JIa a. y
The spirit OF education is IN the ar
to-day as perhaps never before. Parents
are only too glad to give their children
far better educational advantages than
they themselves enjoyed
The spirit OF change In educational
methods has also taken hold Of these
later days And the change has been
for the better.
First OF all. It has come to be gen
orally Recognized thnt the education
rightly unders,ood) OF children should
begin at an earlier age than was pre-
viously thought advisable, or even pos
g!blo Not that they should necessarily
be placed In schools, to go through tho
drill and routine Of the class-roorne-.sH-
dispensable as these are IN their proper
time and place, but rather that tho
growing, outrcnching upreaching deep
ly-!mpressionabe mind OF the young
child should be sympathetically recog-
nzed and intelligenuy provide for. AS
In the case OF every natural science. tho
newer tendency IS TO push back the In
quiry to the earliest possible stages OF
life and growth. So It has come to pass
that the study of the w!sest of our think
ers has been directed towards the begin
rings OF education: towards the forma-
ton OF those FIRST habits and t;-tes that
Inevitably crystalllza quickly IMP I'M
pcrishable character.
II cannot be doubted that the present
methods In general arc far superior to
the old. The dear old ways" seem
ideal ways only as seen through the haze
of fond recoIlections or hallowed personal
associations. They would cut a sorry fig
ure In the march of modern require
ments.
One of the longest steps for
ward in educational methods has
been the rational study of CHILD
nature. with q view to utilizing
this study In It's education Child-hnbils,
child thoughts. chld-feellngs. child-im-
pulses, chld-tastes, child-likes and child
dislikes. have all been taken into account.
Thus the newer method OF education Is
In reality only the truly natural method
Imagination, curiosity. mirthfulncss ana
jollity Notwithstanding, adventure cray-
ing, acknowledgement hing-all bound up
In the average boys or girls mind-are
recognized--nay, are laid hold of and sue
cessfully utilized to the best ends.
BY this means the child becomes IN
reality his own best and chefest educn-
tor. receiving precisely those impulses
and Impressions, and forming precisely
those habits and tastes, and gaining pre-
cisely those rich stores of knowledge
that otherwise would be gained labor
Tho Auxiliary Educational Plan, for
mulated by twenty-eight Of the most dis
tingulshed specialists IN Juvenile educa-
ton and literature in America, Is heart
ily welcomed by all who are dealing with
tho mental advancement of children and
young people ] emphasizes the place
of the home and the reading of Inc right
kind of literature by the young 1t Sc
cures IT'S ends through the channel OF In
att
tainment, never, however, losing sight
Of its high purpose. The wisdom of this
editorial board, which includes such
names as Professor Henry Van Dyke,
of Princeton University; President David
starr Jordan, of Leland stanford, ,lr.
University; Hamilton Wright Mahie,
Professor Charles Elliott Norton, OF Har-
ward University; Professor Edward Sin
eleton Holden. of West Point; Professor
Edwin Erie Sparks. of Chicago tIniver-
sity. Ernest Seton Thompson. President
William Rainy Harper. Chicago Univer-
sity together with the wealth of the
whole worlds literature, have been
brought to bear to answer the question.
what is hest for our children and
young people to read?"
This plan has taken practical form In
the young Folks Library" under the
general editorial supervision of Thomas
Bailey Aldrich, of Boston who has given
years of his life to perfect the plan and
carry 1t out, The lamented Alice Free
man Palmer, one of Americas most
lovely characters, as we'll as most dis
tinguished educators, said OF this IL
bray when she first saw It: '"The Young
Folks Library will be a very great boon
to the children in our homes and schools,
and | may add, TO the older people also;
for l am sure they will tempt others, as
thFy tarfDtad down and read
them Immediately, from cover To cnver,''
And United Sfatpv Comn,'rEianer NJ Fdu-
cation w, II, Herr's: AN who once SEQ
II will want n have It In their honats,"
All who have children or young people
In their homes and are Interested in this
movement may secure further Informal
ton by addressing u. T.. corrcgan, SEQ