FICTION IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1498, 22 July 1912, Page 4

FICTION IN SCHOOLS.

AMERICAN IDEA INTRODUCED. For somo weeks now the, children attending the Clydo Quay School, from the third standard upwards have been supplied with, works of travel and fiction under an idea which was brought from America by the Public Librarian' (Mr. Herbert Baillic). Some years ngo it was the habit of the State schools to have their own libraries, but as a constant supnjy of new books was ever in demand the system became too expensive for all tho schools to keen up, and most of them abandoned having a library. ■ Tim American idea appears to bo a better one. Under this system books are supplied to the schools by the local and Gtcivorninent authorities, in lots to last a certain time. A scholar is allowed a book a week, 40 that it would take oyer a year to get through 52 books (taking holidays into consideration). When one school is finished with an instalment of books they are passed on to tho next school, and are at onco replaced by either a new lot or by ono which has be.ni thrown another class. Tho books are carefully selected, and tho literature chosen "is graded according to tho standard to which tho issue is to be made. Mr W. T. Grundy, headmaster at Clydo Quay, state that the system is a capital one. "The scholars are /is ton as possible on getting the bcoks, ho «aid, "but we only allow them ono a week, though there nro many who would like more. It must not interfere with their lessons. Still, all the books have been cn.refullv elected, and the teachers themselves have interested themselves in procuring exactly those books which rosy think will be at once interesting and instructive to those under thcin. I am sure the thing will turn out a great success., and will serve as an impetus to a love for good literature."