File:Standard Catholic readers by grades First Year (IA StandardCatholicReadersByGrades).pdf

PREFACE.

Every progressive educator is constantly finding new ideas of presentation through his experience. While the majority of our teachers are well equipped for their special work, there are, nevertheless, many of the inexperienced who are not yet resourceful in attracting and maintaining the interest of the child. It is hoped that to euch teachers the methods presented in this volume will prove especially helpful and stimulating. The child should deal with things, with experiences of his own; he should do things, he should tell what he has done, he should impersonate, — and thus I might go on. In learning printed forms all these ideas are helpful. Action stories, conversation stories, and stories drawn from pictures, word building, etc., all encourage thought and give opportunity for expression. At this stage, however, the child's progress in reading is largely a process of drill. Drill to be wholesome must exercise the mental activity of the pupil. He should be given opportunity to find the new in the old, and vice versa, and so to form by synthesis and analysis that habit of mind which alone gives increased mental power, and brings about true assimilation of ideas. In the preparation of this series of readers, valuable counsel and assistance have been given me by friendly educators and those in authority. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Rt. Rev. John Lancaster Spalding of Peoria, Illinois, to the Rt. Rev. James McGolrick of Duluth, Minnesota, to the Rt. Rev. A. F. Schinner, of Superior, Wisconsin, and to other prelates and clergy who have graciously offered suggestions. I am also greatly indebted for helpful, suggestions and criticisms to many of my friends among those patient and inspiring educators — the Sisters. MARY E. DOYLE.

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