A History of the McGuffey Readers
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- Pages
- 41
About this book
Four small schoolbooks with copyright dates of 1836 and 1837 begin Henry Hobart Vail's account of the McGuffey Readers. Drawing on surviving editions, contracts, publishers' accounts and family information, he follows the changes in a series used across American elementary classrooms. His own experience as a teacher and publishing editor gives the history a close view of how reading lessons were selected, revised and sold.
Vail describes the early practice of spelling out words before pronouncing them and recalls lessons about animals, honesty, work and kindness. He argues that readers helped shape character as well as teach children to understand and speak written language. The discussion also reaches the Rhetorical Guide, its preparation by A. H. McGuffey, and the publishers responsible for later revisions. Readers interested in school history can see the practical and moral aims behind these familiar classroom books.
About the author
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Book facts
- Author
- Henry Hobart Vail
- Reading time
- About 80 minutes
- Pages
- 41
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Educational
- Formats
- PDF, EPUB, Read online