Reading In Schools

Many of the schools in the east, and some in the west, also, have adopted a v:l BUUUIUI'J Mm lvKm itilo Btuuy. In Boston, the magazine known as the Wide-Awako in used in place of readers to a considerable extent, and a smaller publication tbr younger children bas been introduced. At one of the publio schools in Kansas a print ing office has been purchased and tho pupils have a paper of their own. The pupils are allowed to set the type, and thm secure much practical knowledge of language not tauglit in choolsor, posibly, to be gleaned from text-books. The (iuie is not far distant when readers, as text-bouks, will be discarded, and the sooner the bettor for the student. There are several reasons why periodicals or nowspapcrs should be substituted for them. In the first place there is always soniething fresh and intereuling (br the scbolar, which would be an incentive to more rapid ad vancement. In the next place the pupil while learning to read, is at the same time gainiog a knowledgo of passing events and keaping pace with the history of his country and of the world. There would also b a variety in each lesson not possi blo to obtain in the text-book, and a practical knowledge gained which would bo inval uable. We can cite an instance where tliis theory has been put into practice. At the Flint school for the deaf and dumb thé older classes are given their lessons f'orm nowspapers sent to that institutioo. A certain hour is set apart for this purpose, and the teacher explains to his class anything the pupil may not understand. The result is that these children becorae familiar with current history, passing events, and the lives of our public men. So beneficial has this mode of instruction provcd, that strangers going into the school and requesting compositions written upon any current topio or event, are astonished at the knowledge displayed. We have seen corapositions written by the pupiis at this school, without any previous prepara tion, upon subjects given by visitors, which would eertainly perplex even the more advanced classes in our high schools, to equal. If these pupils, deaf and dumb as they are, who have as much to contcod against in obtaiuing an education as a gparrow would in endeavoring to fly with a stone of its own weight fastened to its body, are benefiteJ to muh an extent by this method, does it not staDd to reason that it can be introduced to great advantago in our public schools ? And we beücve the time is coming when it will be. _______ Workingmen, vote for the party whmh protaott you, and niakesreasonable salarien i ble.