The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-09-11
LOCAL SCHOOL SOLVES
READING PROBLEM

During the past year much discus
sion has taken place over the state as
to methods to be used to secure the
interest of young people in books and
cause them to read more than they do.
A Hood River writer, sending in a
list of the books of the local high
school to the Oregonian, states that
the problem has been 10 great degree
solved here. Commenting on the list
of books. the 0regonian, editorlally.
says:
"The Hood River high school has
solved the reading problem in a way
which commends itself to the judicious
mind. We have received list Of the
books which are provided fer the pu-
pills. Ii is long and varied, including
sociology, biography, travel, essays
and fiction, but no poetry.
"Is il possible that with all the
beauties of nature and horticulture
which they have to inspire them the
boys and girls of Hood River scorn the
muses.? We cannot believe it. There
| is no written examination included in
| this reading course to pervert the IN
telligence and ruin the interest OF the
Young. We must believe, therefore,
until the contrary is shown, that If
some good poetry were among the
novels and other excellent works 1t
would be devoured at least by few.
Why not try the experiment when the
list for next year is compiled?
1--WE venture timidly upon another
bit OF advice. The list, long as 1t is,
includes not solitary book on the sub
iect of art. Napoleon is very properly
admitted, and so, still more properly,
is David Livingstone. Alice Freeman
Palmer and Mary Lyon receive the
attention they deserve, but there is moi
( a whisper in the long roll about Mich
. elangelo or Whistler or Sargent. Why
not?
"But we did not start out to critieis'
this amirable collection of reading toi
. high school pupils. 1t might be bette
4 IN many respects, but the main poin
Q to bear in mind is that il is good jus
as it stands. The books are turne,
) over to the boys and girls without an,
n directions to read this, that or tn
=. other. They make their own selec
s tions, subject to one or two REASONABLE
q requirements. AS we mentioned above
d the pernicious written examination
IS omitted.
# "Hence there is nothing TO check tn
!, pupils interest and the results ough
e to be encouraging. We have nc
Ie learned how the course of reading
J. accepted. by the young people of Hoo
is River. Do they read as many OF tn
1r books as their teachers hoped the
A. would when the list was perparec
ID Which books are peferred by the boys
as Which by the girls? What is the gel
70 era effect of their reading upon the
" other school work and upon their pc
70 sonal character? Perhaps some teacht
in the Hood River schools or some pu
ay lie spirited parent will take time
nv and by to answer these question
nj through the Oregonian. The inform
of ton would be nseful to many persons
e- Meanwhile We wish to CONNER
of some of the books which the list co
tains. There is Smiles Self He'll
for instance, one of the best boy
books ever written. 1t tells the sto
Of many a man who made his W
., through heartbreaking difficulties
IN the goal be aimed at. No boy can re
,is it without feeling the thrill OF hi
resolve.
w99l 1--WE are glad to see Mark Twail
llo three immortal works included, -
eW Sawyer, 'Huckleberry Finn and !
'ut nocents Abroad In spite of their
Gu grammar, there is no better reading
,us the world for boys. Ry the way. b
nu much of the wretched English which
: so characteristic of our school childl
can be traced to the habit of keep
them silent hour after hour and
~ after day throughout the school ye
.ol o. Good English is largely matter
Ihe good practice and the law of
,ne school imposes fetters upon the tons
o,a instead of stimulating its activity. "