The Washington times., 1914-11-09

Uncle Sans Bureau of Education is
conducting a correspondence school. 1t
is called the National Reading Circle.
is conducted without fees. and offers
certificate, authorized by the Depart
ment of the Interior, as a reward of
merit.
The National Reading Circle, although
1t has been operative little moro than
a week, has already become very pop
ular throughout the country, and is
designed to aid the residents of rural
communities, as we'll as those of cities.
in pursuing a course of home study in
literature.
DR.. p. p. Claxton, Commissioner Of
Education. has long been an advocate
Of cooperation in matters Of education
between the school and the home. The
this policy, and even though the plan
is but yet in its infancy. two complete
courses of reading have already been
compiled, and three others are in prepa-
ration.
Courses for Specitl Needs.
Each one of these courses has been
prepared to meet the special needs and
tastes of all grades of culture in the
are ready there will be one for child
rem who have not had the benefit Of
high school education. There will be
another for boys and girls who have
graduated from high and normal
schools. Still others will be offered Of
special interest to wives and mothers.
The first Of the reading courses Is de-
signed for the use Of boys and girls pos
sessing high school educations or their
equivalent.
OF this course DR.. Claxton says:
Among all the books Of the world
a few are SO pre-eminent for content
and style that they have been called
the literary Bibles. These are the
Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer. the
Divine Comedy of Dante, the greater
dramas of Shakespeare, and Goethe's
Faust Each of these is the embodi-
ment and revelation OF the ideals Of
a race, an age, or civilization. They
came out Of the hearts and minds Of
the people, for whom their authors
were only the spokesmen.
Books Fundamental.
They are therefore simple, funda-
mental, and comprehensive. They ap-
peal to the hearts and grip the minds
Of all people everywhere, young and
old, learned and unlearned, of what
ever race or creed. They are human
books and take firm hold on the hu-
man life which we all live, which few
understand, but which in all its
phases has interest without end"
They are broadminded, catholic
books Their authors saw life steadily
and saw it whole. Kings and priests
to God and humanity, they interpret
ed for man the eternal mysteries.
Prophetic men, they stood on the
mountain tops and caught the glow
of the ever dawning new day. Pine
ly organized men, they felt the heart
throb and pulse beat OF the human
race, and understood the hopes and
fears and aspirations Of humanity
better than most and have set these
to the music of rhythmic, winged
words.
These books should be read by all
who would know the worlds litera-
ture and life. The United States Bu-
reau of Education has, therefore,
chosen them for its first course in
reading, and invites all serious mind
ed young men and women to join this,
its first national reading circle.
Reading Prescribed.
The first course Of reading prescrib-
ed by the Bureau of Education, under
the designation of the Worlds great
literary bibles" includes:
The IlliaJ Of Homer. William Gull
len Bryants Students Edition; The
Oddyssy of Homer. Butcher and Lang;
The Divine Comedy of Dante. Carey's