Part 34 (1/2)

BOOKS FOR REFERENCE AND COLLATERAL READING IN THE STUDY OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

This book is designed to be used before the formal text-book on American history is begun in grammar-school grades. It is intended also to serve as a convenient basis for more extended work both on the part of the teacher and of pupils. Hence the reading of the preceding chapters is only one part of the proposed plan. A systematic course in supplementary reading should be added. The following plan is suggested, but it may be modified, of course, to meet the needs of any particular cla.s.s of pupils.

NOTE.--The whole subject of reference books on American History is treated thoroughly in Montgomery's _Student's American History_ [see ”Short List of Books,” page xxiv in Appendix, and ”Authorities Cited,” page x.x.x in Appendix], Montgomery's _American History_ [see ”Short List of Books,” page x.x.xiii in Appendix], and Fiske's _History of the United States_ [see Appendix D, page 518, Appendix E, page 527, and Appendix F, page 529].

REFERENCE BOOKS FOR TEACHERS.

Two books are of special value to teachers. These are Channing and Hart's _Guide to American History_ [Ginn & Company, Publishers, price $2.00], and Gordy and Twitch.e.l.l's _Pathfinder in American History_ [Lee & Shepard, Publishers, complete in one volume, $1.20. In separate parts, Part I, 60 cents; Part II, 90 cents].

These two works are replete with suggestions, hints and helps on collateral study, numerous references, detailed lists of topics, and a wide range of other subjects which make them indispensable to the teacher of American history.

SCHOOL TEXT-BOOKS FOR READING AND REFERENCE.

Pupils should have easy access, by means of the school library or otherwise, to a few of the formal school text-books on American history.

In connection with this book Montgomery's _Leading Facts of American History_ and Fiske's _History of the United States_ are especially valuable. The following books are perhaps equally serviceable: Eggleston's _History of the United States_; Steele's _Brief History of the United States_ [usually known as ”Barnes's History”]; Thomas's _History of the United States_ and Mowry's _History of the United States_. These books are useful in reading for additional topics, for dates, maps, ill.u.s.trations, reference tables, and for ”filling in”

subjects which do not come within the scope of this book.

TOPICS FOR COLLATERAL READING.

For ordinary school work the text-books to which we have just referred will furnish enough and suitable material for these topics. When, however, standard works on history are of easy access, through the school or public libraries, it is well even for pupils of the lower grades to read sparingly by topics from such works. These topics should be carefully selected by the teacher. They should be brief and call only for a few pages of reading.

In the succeeding pages references have been given only to a very few standard works, such as those by Fiske, Parkman, Irving, and McMaster, and such other books as can ordinarily be easily obtained.

REFERENCES FOR READING.

Pupils should also have easy reference to books from which topics may be read or which may be read sparingly by select pa.s.sages indicated by the teacher. Many of these books have been suggested more on account of their interesting style than for strict historical accuracy. Read the designated works not as a whole but only by topics or selections. They will do much to awaken and maintain a lively interest in American history.

OUTSIDE READINGS.

While the study of this book is in progress it is well for the pupils to limit their miscellaneous reading to such books as bear directly upon our subject. Under this head we have suggested many productions which belong to the ”story-book” order. Wholesome books of fiction and semi-fiction may certainly do much to stimulate and hold the attention of young students of American history. With this topic, as with all other topics on collateral reading, the teacher should exercise a careful supervision.

FOR READING OR RECITATION.

The work should be enlivened by reading occasionally, before the cla.s.s or the school, poems or prose selections which bear directly upon the general topic under consideration. We have referred only to a very few such extracts from good literature. Other selections will readily suggest themselves.

USE OF A TOPIC BOOK OR NOTEBOOK.

The teacher and pupil should appreciate the scope and usefulness of a Topic book or Notebook. By this is meant a blank book with semi-flexible or board covers, of a convenient size, and of at least 48 pages. Into this blank book should be written carefully with ink brief notes as the several chapters of this book are read or studied. It may well be a kind of enlarged diary of the pupil's work.

Make brief notes of the various books read in whole or by topics; topics not treated in this book but discussed in the cla.s.s, such as King Philip's War, the Mexican War, etc., and references to new books to be reserved for future reading and other subjects which will readily suggest themselves.

This notebook should be well ill.u.s.trated. The basis should be the inexpensive photographic copies (sold for about one cent each) of famous pictures ill.u.s.trating important events in American history.