PUBLISHERS' NOTE. IN entering upon the publication of a new series of School Readers, the publishers desire to call attention to some of the features which distinguish these books from others of their kind, and which they believe will commend them to all progressive educators: 1st. They have been prepared with special reference to the practical work of the school-room. The pages are not encumbered with useless matter. Whatever would be likely to divert the attention of the child from the chief object in view - that of learning to read has been omitted, or relegated to its proper place. 2d. These books contain a larger amount of reading-matter than the corresponding numbers of any other series in general use; in the variety and interest of their lessons they are unsurpassed; their gradation is perfect; they form a complete, unbroken series; the necessity of "supplementary" Readers is avoided, and desirable uniformity as regards both matter and method is secured. 3d. The reading-lessons have been prepared with a view towards cultivating a taste for the best style of literature as regards both thought and expression. While adapting these lessons to the understanding of children, care has been taken to avoid the opposite extreme that of overmuch simplifying. It is desirable rather to improve the child's intellectual capacity by giving him lessons a little in advance of his present attainments, than to stultify his understanding and insult his intelligence by a strained effort to make every exercise appear child-like and easy. 4th. While the paramount object of the books is to teach reading, other important and desirable features are by no means absent or overlooked. Lessons inculcating moral truths are of frequent Occurrence. These lessons are such as will appeal at once to the child's better nature and strengthen his love for right-doing. Lessons intended to cultivate an appreciation of the wonderful and the beautiful in nature, and to introduce the pupil to a knowledge of the achievements of science and art, are given due prominence. In the higher numbers of the series large space is given to subjects relating to the history and resources of our country and the achievements of the American people thus aiding to cultivate a spirit of patriotism and love for American institutions. 5th. These Readers are supplemented by a series of brief but comprehensive suggestions for Oral Lessons in Language. That such suggestions may in no respect detract from the value of the lessons simply as reading exercises, they are made to occupy a place by themselves at the end of each book. 6th. Pieces to be memorized, including some of the finest gems of poetry in our language, are appended to each Reader. 7th. Only a very few new words are introduced with each lesEvery new word is studied in connection with the lesson in which it first occurs. son. 8th. By means of the short word-lists appended to each lesson, and the complete list near the end of the book (wherein the pronunciation of every word is indicated by diacritical marks), pupils learn in a natural and practical manner how to use the dictionary. Each Reader is thus supplemented by a spelling-book and a dictionary, complete so far as the vocabulary of that Reader extends. 9th. The illustrations, which, like the reading-lessons, are graded to suit the class of pupils for whom they are intended, are of a high order of merit. They are the work of the best artists of this country, and have been prepared with special reference to their educational value distinct from their use as mere pictures. 10th. These Readers are not the result of hap-hazard methods or of untried theories, but are the outgrowth of the experience of practical teachers thoroughly acquainted with the most approved methods of instruction and understanding the present demands and needs of the schools. The publishers especially desire to acknowledge their obligations to James Baldwin, Ph. D., by whom the series has been edited and prepared for the press. They also wish to express their indebtedness to Supt. O. T. Bright, of Englewood, Illinois, and Samuel Mecutchen, A. M., of Philadelphia, for valuable aid and suggestions; and to the numerous teachers who have assisted in various ways in the final revision of the series. AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY. |