Evening star., 1947-11-29

that agree with what he already believes. Even
to read aloud great book to one person and
then to discuss it, as has long been my habit,
has some advantages, provided there is real
discussion and the reader and listener do not
think too much alike.
The value of the group discussions comes in
part from the fact that no group is altogether
homogeneous. Much of the value derives from
the fact that it includes people with different
experiences and different temperaments, with
differences in formal education, in age, in
occupation and in social background. The re-
suit Is that there are not in such group two
opinions, as in the case Of one reading aloud
to another, but whole set of views about the
book, with smaller chance for misconcep
tions and misinterpretations. This not only
results in better comprehension of the book
under discussion, but also makes for better
understanding of our fellow-men, for greater
tolerance of the ideas of others, by reason of
the give and take of others focused on the
same question in the discussion.
All Is not sweetness and light in these dis
cussion groups. Occasionally recurring themes
are the sins of big business, the trusts, the
rich, the newspapers, and other similar topics,
some OF which add spice to the proceedings
There is plenty of humor in the comments.
When the announcement was made that
there would be summer groups, one young
woman asked eagerly for the exact dates, say
ing that she wanted to plan her vacation so
as not to miss any of the meetings. AS John
Cheney, the assistant director of the program
was showing his pass as he boarded a streetcar,
the motorman said, Hello, Mr.; Cheney, when
does our group start again?" A policeman on
the beat where DR.. John w. Powell, director
of the program, lives stopped him to say that
he had just bought himself fine copy of
Voltaires "Candide," which he had read In a
group. A man from New Orleans in a group
where Aristotle's Politics" was under discus
sion, after lively but good-natured argument
on slavery with Negro girl, remarked: "As a
matter fact, this is the first time I ever sat
at the same table with a colored person."
1t Was Begun by Miss Herbert
As already indicated, this program was
started in January 1945, by Miss Clara w.
Herbert, who succeeded me as chief librarian.
Learning that Education Fund, Inc, which
meant DR.. Robert M. Hutchins, chancellor of
the University of Chicago, was desirous of
spreading the gospel of Great Books" from his
university and from ST. Johns College, where
he Is trustee, Miss Herbert modestly asked
for $4,000 to start the program here. But DR..
Scott Buchanan, then dean of st. Johns, who
investigated the Washington plans, recon-
mended a grant of $45,000 for three years.
There was help and advice from Annapolis but
finally DR.. Powell, with somewhat similar
experience in San Francisco was brought into
the picture and has carried on as director since
September, 1945 At first the grant funds we're
used to buy the extra copies of the books
needed, as well as to pay the director and
some OF the leaders. But the grant funds will
soon be exhausted and then, If the program is
to be continued, appropriations for personnel
Will be required 1t is to be hoped that the
program will have sufficiently justified itself
to insure the necessary appropriations by
Congress.
AS indicated at the beginning, education is
never-ending, lifelong process. The beauty
OF the plan of reading the great books and then
of discussing them with groups is that many
OF the books are rereadable and that there are
enough of them to last out any lifetime AS
an evangelist of the gospel OF adult education
through the medium Of the great books and
then OF discussing them with groups, do not
hope to entice any one away from radio soap
opera programs, or any one devoted to poker,
pinochle. or bridge: but to those to whom this
program makes strong appeal, can promise
much fun, great satisfaction and real happi-
ness. GEORGE F. BOWERMAN