Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-24
READING.

~ LllSIS 10 l' tioSIhu nj AAASS ~ 4" N~SSI
amount of emptiness in the world today, for the
reading habit seems to be passing into disuse. A
speaker at a meeting Of the North Dakota Educa-
ton association in Fargo the other day emphasized
the value Of reading and the Importance of incul-
eating a taste for reading in the early years Of a
child's life. Educators generally recognize the fact
that too little reading is done in connection with
school work, one reason being, Of course, the de-
n1ands that are made on the child's time and ener-
giles in the study Of a great multitude Of other sub
iects.
If a taste for reading is to be developed its be-
ginnings must be made in early life. There have
been individuals who developed such a taste in later
years, but they arc exceedingly rare, and in general
it may be said that the child who leaves school with
out a love for reading never afterward acquires that
taste.
1t is always difficult to make comparisons, es-
pecially in educational matters. between present
and former times because the conditions vary SO
greatly and the number of people engaged in a par
ticular activity changes SO greatly as to make COM
PARSONS difficult ii not worthless. 1t is not quite
certain that fewer, children learn to read well now
than formerly. 1t seems likely that their propor-
ton is smaller than it was. More children attend
the schools than was the case two or three genera
tons ago, and allowance must be made for this TACT.
But it is undoubtedly true that in the mass Of our
population there is a marked lack of good reading,
and this condition seems likely to increase rather
than to diminish. One cause undoubtedly is the
superabundance of reading matter. At every turn
one is confronted with something to read. 1t may
be utterly worthless but it takes some time to dis
cover whether it is worth while or not, and a very
large proportion Of the material offered is really
useful and desirable. The individual who desires
to keep informed as to the trend Of affairs necessar-
lily reads one or more newspapers. This reading
must be done hurriedly and it must be done daily.
If a day is missed something is lost, and it is diff
cult to re-establish the connection. Next to the
newspaper comes the periodical, and of these we
I have al, almost infinite number, many Of them we'll
4 filled with really valuable articles on science, philos-
4 ophy, and Gnrrent events and the reading Of even
I 4 small fraction of this material occupies so much
time that each article must be SKINNED through
quite hurriedly in order that the reader might get
the gist OF it. and without much attention being
& paid to the fine points Of expression and general
literary excellence. When one has completed the
reading Of this character for which there seems to
be a real demand. the amount Of time that can be
devoted to other reading is usually very limited.
Not only is there a cutting down of the time
which can be devoted to reading. but the habit Gre
ated by rapid reading of current articles develops
a Discrimination to read books as books should be
read if they Are to be understood and appreciated.
The choppiness of our reading seems to be
quite consistent with the general character Of mod
ern life. There is a strong inclination to do SO
many things rapidly that there grows a tendency to
do nothing well. We Jump over one activity to an
other. perform tasks in a hurried and slipshod man
ner in order to pass quickly to the next thing. and
SO on until the day is ended. and it is quite natural
that our reading should suffer lust as our other
n work suffers in like manner.
If the schools can really develop in the minds
of the children a real desire for the reading. of good
literature. not only will there have been created an
element in the individuals life which will be per
manently beneficial from the reading standpoint,
but a direction may be given to his activities in
other DIRECTIONS which will induce the better per
torrance of the days tasks, more conscientious
fulfllment Of life's obligations, and the building OF
a stronger and better citizenship.