CATHOLIC READERS.

New Zealand Tablet, 25 February 1915, Page 35

CATHOLIC READERS.

To the Editor.

Sir, —Permit me to second Father O’Brien’s endeavor, in your issue of the 11th inst., in bringing to the notice of the Catholic Federation the fact of the existence and, in my opinion, the great educational and religious worth of the L Italic neat ion Series brought out by the Education Department of the Catholic University of America (Catholic Educational Pi-ess, 1026 Quincey street, Brooklands, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.). Although American, the series is Catholic in every sense. In the words of a writer in the January number of The Catholic Educational Review, ‘it,’ referring to the first book of the series, ‘ is planned in accordance with the psychological laws that govern the minds of children.’ The same is true of the remaining books of the series. I happen to have a set before me, and, furthermore, I have seen a set used most successfully in one convent school in this country. The Sister in charge assures me that the children of the school in question are delighted with the books. They give a living interest to the dry methods too long in vogue in the teaching of the most abstract and, therefore, the most difficult of all the school subjects. The only difficulty I see in the way of introducing the series into our schools is the serious one of expense; 'Not that the series is unduly dear, but, owing to the number of the books and the nature of their get-up—-they comprise, for instance, songs with music, and numerous sepia reproductions of masterpieces, domestic and religiousthe cost is necessarily somewhat high. 'Still, even one set in a school in the hands of capable teachers should, I think, prove invaluable in brighten-

ipg the out-of-date methods , (as contrasted with the scientific method, in which secular subjects are presented) that we so commonly find pursued in the teaching of Christian doctrine. I may add that the concentric method of teaching is kept in view throughout in the compilation of the series. It is, of course, the province of others to say the final word on this most important subject. lam glad, however, to be able to second Father O’Brien, who has drawn the attention of the Federation to the matter. — I am, etc., February IT. ■ Sagakt.