The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-05-28

$1,000
books tnat they have read and like
best. 1t is remarkable how the con-
taeion of interest will spread. Don't
let an opportunity pass of having
pupil illustrate point in the lesson
by something that he has read.
Read part of an interesting book to
the class, and then tell them that they
can finish by taking it from the library.
With older pupils, supplement the
classwork frequently, though not in
large doses, by assigning parallel
reading.
In conclusion, permit me to urge
Il at you do not treat this library work
as a side issue. None Of your classes
surpass it in Importance. The prime
mission of our schools is to effect a
general uplift of character. No part
of our work can accomplish so much
in this direction as the cultivation OF
a taste for good reading. Since our
ideals are shaped by the company we
keep, it must be of tremendous con-
sequence that our children form sucn
intimate associations with the noblest
of earth as are possible only through
the favorite author. Let me guide the
interest of a child, and 1 will form his
ideals; give me the making of his
ideals. and I will make or blast his
character.
It was much more than half the
truth that some one uttered: Let
fathers and mothers choose pleasure
books for their children, and they
need little care who chooses their text
books" Even so slrewdly practical
an American as President Eliot quotes,
with approval, "The uplifting of the
democratic masses depends upon the
implanting at schools of taste for
good reading
How to Get Library in Every Rural
School.
We can assume, then, that the IL
brary is an indispensable element of
teaching. 1 go further and assume
that all agree. that a neatly cased set
of attractive books is one OF the es-
sential ornaments of the school house.
On one plank of the educational plat
form all must stand: A library in
every school in South Carolina. The
only question is, How shall We get it?
Suppose you have taken charge Of
school that shows no vestige of a
library, in a community that has no
conception Of the need Of one. Your
first task is to begin overcoming the
strangeness of tae idea and creating
a demand for books Make tle start
yourself. Probably you have some
reading books, histories and geogra-
phies other than your regular text
books, also some good magazines and
story books. Take these as the nu-
cleus of your library. The exercise OF
a little skill will start children to
reading the stories or looking at the
pictures for pleasure, and will make
the older pupils feel the advantage OF
parallel references in geography and
history Once create in tie children
a taste for more books, and the library
is pretty sure to come. Suggest to
the pupils to lend their own nice books
to the school for their classmates to
read. The pride of ownership Will
often lead them to do so.
In some homes there are old mag
azines which the ihousekeeper, though
unwilling to destroy, would be glad
to put out of the way. These may be
obtained for the school through news
paper or private request. Frequently
"1end-a-hand" friends will be found
who will gladly send current perlod-
calls regularly, as soon as read.
While, as have pointed out, you
should start with acting, you had bet
ter follow this up with talking. Plead
that the opportunity offered by the
State library law be not thrown away.
Ask trustees, patrons and publlc-splr-
tied people in general to subscribe.
Emphasize the importance of library.
Ask why their children should not en-
ioy as good advantages as others.
Write to 1tae State superintendent Oh
education for literature on the SUBJECT
and distribute it among your patrons.
Start the children to talking for
YOU. This is easy enough when once
YOU nave got them to love reading.
While they will be your best adVo-
Ecates, their success will be greatly en-
,hanced by getting the homefolks IN
terested in the library on their own
account. Encourage the pupils to take