The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-13
OF MONTANA
COURSE IN HISTORY
READING COMPILED
Bureau Of Education Announces Care.
fully Selected List Of Books on
Worlds Growth.


requests from various parts of the
country, the bureau Of education. de-
partment Of the interior, has Just add
ed to its list of reading courses a read
Ing course in American history. In
announcing the new course DR.. p. p.
Claxton, commissioner Of education.
declares:
All American citizens should know
more of the history Of their country
than can be learned from the meager
outlines of the textbooks used in our
elementary and high schools. That a
large number of people should have
such general and comprehensive
knowledge of the country, its life and
growth and the form and spirit of its
institutions. as can be gained only
from reading at least several Of the
standard histories is essential to the
welfare of the republic. At every ma
tional election and at many state and
municipal elections the people are
called upon to vote on policies which
cannot be intelligently determined
without such knowledge. Legislators
and other representatives Of the people
are constantly in need Of it. Only out
of the history of the past can come an
understanding Of the principles by
which they must be guided If they are
to work wisely for the future. To read
extensively and deeply in the history
OF the country becomes therefore a
patriotic duty. Only thus can one love
his land with love far brought from
out the stored past used within the
present and transferred through fu.
ture time by power of thought
Most Interesting Reading.
"Those who have learned to reat
history find 1t the most interesting
form Of literature. The story of an,
country or of any great movement o.
any people. fifty told, Is interesting
especially when the reader has learned
to understand the relation to eacl
other Of the thought and feeling ant
purpose and action of the people. N,
country has more interesting histor,
than the United States, which, from
its beginnings in the scattered settle
ments of immigrants from European
shores three hundred years ago ant
less. has grown through colonial ant
national life till it has become tn,
greatest, wealthiest, and most power
full and most prosperous. the freest
strained, the most cosmopolitan an,
the most firmly united nation tn
world has ever known. The story O
the United States is the story not O
dynasties and courts but of the people
their life. their industries. their aspira
tons and the democratic institution
through which they have sought to at
tain these aspirations, and every lin
of the story throbs with present in
terest and future meaning" a
Expert Selection.
The list of books was selected b,
the bureau in cooperation with sew
eral Well-known historians and edu
| Gators, including DR.. w. II. Mace O
Syracuse university, DR.. Wilbur i
Gordy of Hartford. Conn: DR.. Frank
lin l.. Riley of Washington and lie
| university. and DR.. William Star
| Myers of Princeton university.
The books in the course were Sc
lected with a view to presenting
complete record Of the United States
including the European background
| exploration and settlement, the war O
| Independence, the division over sec
tional issues. economic development,
the civil war and reconstruction. an,
the concentration and expansion of tn
United States as a nation.
This course was designed primaril,
for those who have left school. bu
anyone is eligible who can find tim
to read. For particulars address tn,
Home Education Division. Unitct
States Bureau of Education, Washing