READING FOR BOYS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16918, 24 December 1925, Page 6

READING FOR BOYS.

NEED OF SUPERVISIONVALUE OF GOOD LITERATURE. POPULAR SCHOOL LIBRARY. The importance of exercising some measure of supervision over tho reading of boys was stressed by the headmaster of the Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland, Mr F. W. Gamble, When speaking at' the breaking-up ceremony. Mr Gamble said a distinct step forward had been made in the school by the equipment and regular use of tlie reference library. “Boys on the average are willing readers,” added Mr Gamble, “but books of tho wrong type are so commonly within reach, that a taste, to my mind an utterly spurious one, for insidious forms of literature is acquired, and there is urgent call for some protective measures. The lending library is, of course, a voluntary matter and thereby limited in its effectiveness. In this section the class of literature is such as claims the healthy atention of boys. A careful watch is kept over the progress of the regular visitors to tho lending library, and similar care is taken in checking the home-reading of all boys. While the holding of a ‘better reading’ campaign helps the English section of school-work in particular, we are deeply concerned with the broader results that are produced by the action of good literature on boys’ minds.

“The .reference library goes much further Ilian a mere lending library, for 'here the shelves hold books of a most representative order. Each form spends one period a week in this library, the boys are. free to select their own reading matter, and the masters can do much for the boys individually in the way of advice and discussion. This period of exploring good hooks has proved very popular, and we feel encouraged to follow this course even more thoroughly in the future.” Mr Gamble said it must he recognised that their attempt to direct a boy’s reading depended for its ultimate success upon t he support of the home.