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WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1923 Talks About Our Winnetka Schools By CARLETON W. WASHBURNE, Superintendent, Winnetka Public Schools. LITERATURE It is appropriate that the topic for this week's talk be literature, for next week is book week throughout the nation. No more difficult question confronts the teachers of Winnetka at the pres- ent time than that of books for chil- dren. We have at our disposal the recommendations of the American Library association and the book lists of many school systems. Each of these has been thoughtfully prepared. The very trouble lies in the fact that these lists are prepared thoughtiully rather than scientifically. Unfortun- ately, the thought of an adult does not always point the way to the interests of a child. Some hooks ranked by adults as classics, and listed as being most valu- able to children, prove quite uninter- esting to the boys and girls of todav. The swiftness and fullness of life in the twentieth century has changed the standard for young people's read- ing, just as it has changed that of adults. The nnmber of us grownups who actually sif down of an evening to read Thackeray. or George Elliot, or Walter Scott. or Jane Austin, is ex- ceedinely small. Must Compete with Films Books must now compete with the movies in wide range of activities 'and in an intensity of life that is some- times sensational, and at times. stim- ulating. Good hooks should counteract some of the feverishness of present day liv- ing, but must, at the same time. keep one awake and interested. Tn makine up our reading lists in the Winnetka schools, we are bearing in mind the following desirable attri- butes of @ood hooks for children. Desirable Attributes 1. Interest. A book which is not interesting to the child who reads it is a dead loss to him so far as litera- ture is concerned, whatever its other fine aualities. 2. Apvoropriateness of Gradine. A hook which is given to a child who is too voung to enjoy it is liable to be avoided bv that child even when he is older. We cannot afford to preju- dice children against the very books we want them some day to enjoy. 3. Fthical Value. There is no at- temnt to choose books that moralize. Such an attempt would violate the fist aualification--interest. It is nec- essary, however. "to see that the at- tributes of the characters in the book which one is led to admire through readino are attributes which we want our children to emulate. 4. Style. This is distressingly in- tangible and there is room for the widest divergence of opinion concern- ing it. This much, however, is evi- dent: the books must be written in clear, effective, good English. 5. Appropriateness of Subject Mat- ter. A book might conform to all of the above criteria and still be thor- oughly inappropriate in its substance for school children. A book on a school reading list should deal with activities and emotions which are within the experiences of the child. 6. Appropriateness of Form. We have found that the circulation in the school library of an attractively illus- trated edition of a book is so much greater than that of an unattractive edition, that the more expensive book is really more economical. The money spent on an attractive edition supplies a much larger number of children with reading material than would the same amount of money spent on two or three cheaper editions. Tt is easier to teach a child to love a book which is beautiful than one which is unat- tractive. Since we realize that our book lists are incomplete. a great deal of free- dom is allowed to the teachers in the various grades in the crediting Buy a Chevrolet Today re ORTHWESTER N MOTOR CO. N 1103 Chicago Ave., Evanston 724 Elm St., Winnetka 136 1st St, Highland Park of books suitable to the capacities of their individual children, and available for their use. This is especially true among the teachers of the seventh and eighth grades. Cites Two Phases Literature work in the Winnetka schools has two phases. By far the most important phase is the reading of a wide variety of good books. Fvery room has a library and we are constantly at work trying to make this library to conform to the ideals set forth above. Every child reads at least one hundred books between first grade and eighth. The second aspect of literature work is that which used to take a large por- tion of school time--the intensive study of a few classics. This type of study has, in the past, turned many children away from books instead of attracting them. We are endeavoring to give it to them in sufficiently small deses and with edough of the fun ele- ment to prevent it from repelling them. We confine this work largely to the seventh and eighth grades and, even there, it occupies only a small part of the school program. Some study how- ever, of how our best writers get their effects, and intense tasting of a few samples of the best literature is un- doubtedly of value. A careful investigation of a wide range of children's books by a large number of teachers, children, and par- ents, is being contemplated. When the details of this investigation are under way they will be reported more fully. At present we are using such lists as are available and adding to them such books that, in our experi- ences, have aided in giving to the children a taste of reading good books. The Pi Beta Phi sorority of North- western university, announces a card party for Friday afternoon, December 7. at the Orrington hotel, to benefit its chapter house building fund. OUR NEW CHRISTMAS SAVINGS CLUB STARTS DECEMBER 17th DO YOUR BANKING IN WINNETKA It Helps Develop Your Own Community Resources fa eff five ri * i Safety Boxes over $1,000,000.00 : Storage Vaults "Officers and Directors HENRY R. HALE, Hours: President 8:00 to 3 daily 8 to 12:30 Saturday 7 p. m. to 8 p. m. Vice President SANBORN HALE, Cashier . VICTOR ELTING CARLTON PROUTY NOBLE HALE WINNETKA STATE BANK ELM STREET, EAST OF LINCOLN AVENUE Saturday evening [LOUIS B. KUPPENHEIMER OAK TERRACE LAUNDRY KIDS Ye urR SHIRT WAILSTS MDYOUR LINENS RARE -- AT CUR HANDS WILL a REC\EVE GREAT CARE. » We're just about as careful people as ever got into the Laundry business. What we mean to say is that we are ex- | lot of particular men and women who live in this town who are duly grateful because we are | in the washing and ironing busi- | ness. For information phone OAK TERRACE LAUNDRY | Highland Park 87 : 1 | | pertly careful. There are a 1 1 | | | | We are always on the job. | Saigo She will be glad to see you if you bring her a nice big box of delicious candy. We have some of the best she ever tasted. Crane's Gilbert's Lovell and Covel Chocolates, boxed or not. Smiling Service Community Pharmacy CHAS. R. PATCHEN 574 Phone Lincoln Ave. 164 No Shortage of Gas This Winter Depend on gas for heating purposes. Strikes, shortages, soaring prices and trans- portation difficulties threaten other fuel but you may be sure there will be' sufficient gas. Save the coal pile. Install a Radianthire Gas Heater. We have portable types to be used in chilly rooms or permanent Fire- place heaters. If it's done with heat you can do it better with gas. See Our Fall Display North Shore Gas Company