(6) Stimulate and direct potential literary creativity.
(7) Serve as foreword for book-study of literature.
(8) Give knowledge of life.
(1) The story will give pleasure. Educational
thought is growing more and more cordial toward
this value. Undisturbed by any charge of "soft
pedagogy," it finds wholesome pleasure, not merely
relaxing, but constructive, building toward physical
health, mental brightness, and moral virtue. Here
is the story's opportunity. Every one admits it is
pleasure-giving. The stern-minded among us must
realize that this is its deepest educational value. It
is from the good pleasure the child gets from the
story that will ripen good taste, good will, good
effort, and all the other goods some teachers and
parents regard as more substantial merit. Besides,
joy appears to be here to stay. To attempt to take
it out of the plan of things is, to say the least, short-*sighted.
American civilization is looking hopefully
to the school for better national standards of
pleasure. The school is under obligation to educate
the children to enjoyment of wholesome pleasure.
(2) The story will stir and direct the imagination. We do not yet grant in practice the importance of the imagination. We do not purposefully
