The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-12-29
Address Before the Teachers
Association New In ses-
siol at Atlantic City
TWELVE RULES OF READING
TO BE CULTIVATED ONE MUST
HAVE A WIDE INTEREST AND
STUDY MANY SUBJECTS,
THOUGH ONE MAY KNOW
WELL ONLY A FEW.
Special to "The Jersey city News.,)

There was a great deal of excitement in
the air atethe session Of the State Teach
ers' Association oyer the introduction of
the amendment to the constitution, and
It seemed that many were the faults
found with reigning powers. The
amendment will be discussed to-day.
Superintendent Charles B. Boyce, of
Atlantic City, gave the report of the
comh.ittee of educational progress. which
will be found in another column.
Powell G. Fithian gave two vocal So
los, Border Ballad" and Little Boy
Blue
Librarian John Cotton Dana's address
followed
Librarian Dana spoke in part as fol-
lows
Ever since the National Educational
Association established a library depart
ment, partly, l am glad to say, at my
suggestion about ten years ago. have
rad in mind the preparation of small
book on the Use of Books This. if
rightly made, would be of value to pu-
pills in normal schools who are preparing
TO be teachers, for it would help them to
realize the possibilities of book-using. as
distinct from Eook-reading or book study
ing and would help them to take advan-
tage more easily of the, resources of any
large library they might afterwards have
access 10. and would give them l.ltle
wider view of the modern literature for
children. Such book as had in mind
would also, so I thought, be of help TO
the working teacher. Through its aid
IAshe could perhaps more quickly aud more
prohtably employ, in her own school
room, books borrowed from public Ii.
brary Or supplied by the school board.
for her own use or that of her pupils.
should be written by professor of ped
agogy rather than by a librarian. 1t
should be made in accordance with the
needs of normal schools ard working
teachers, and arranged on good peda-
gogie lines. | have never yentured to
proved by nearly all who passed on it.
teacher nor an expert in education.
But. as it is not forthcoming from other
sources, | venture to set out an outline
for criticism and sagge stion, thinking
that if it is satisfactory to teachers
may try to fill it out later. with the
help of some who are wise i'll method
might add that most of this outline was
submitted to many nermal school prin-
cipals several years ago, and was APP
proved by nerly all who passed on it.
This outline your ASSOCIATION has
kindly published an'. use it as the text
for my talk to you. May ask that
each Of you take copy Of it with you?
If You can find time to look it over. and
send to me criticisms of it, or suggestions
as TO adlit.ons or omissions, | shall be
greatly obliged.
.Of course. in my talk now ! take
time to touch on only few of the many
| points mentioned in it; notably the fol-
/ lowing:-
Book reviews The well-made book.
Subscription books. Book lists. Refer
ring to books Using books. The teach
er's own books. The school library.
Books in the school room.- Clippings and
pictures Books for children.
You should be as class the best in
formed. most alert and best equipped for
Your work Of any class in the community.
| / am not sure that you are not. But if
you are. then you are not good givers.
You keep your wisdom too much 10 your
serves. Ieopie iook 10 YOU Aor Il SFtcisutl y
they should find you specialists; also they
should find yon informed. and this brings
me back to the subject of my talk. For.
after you have given yourself entirely to
the task Of becoming the best teacher it
is in yonrlpower to be, you should give
time and thought TO becoming super
fcially informed on everything.
Il don't like to use the word, but it is
true that to be cultivated you must be
superficial. speak with care and on
good authority There are only two or
three things at the best that any Of you
can know, knew wen. know intimately.
For YOU the first Of these, Of course. is
the art and science of teaching. While
son are learning that. which means as
long as you liye, you must life UP your
| eyes and looE on this resussa world ~