I was thumbing through an old and treasured book that I probably snared at a rummage sale while in grade school: One Hundred and One Famous Poems.
It was published in Chicago by The Cable Company in 1926. In addition to some very nice poems, it includes the Declaration of Independence; the Gettysburg Address; President Lincoln's Letter to Mrs. Bixby; the Magna Charta; The Ten Commandments; and Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death" speech.
It also has "Rules for Choosing Books" which provide guidelines for parents. Among them are:
"Does this book lay stress on villainy, deception or treachery?"
"Are all the incidents wholesome, probable and true to life?"
"Does it show young people contemptuous toward their elders and successfully opposing them?"
"Do the young characters in the book show respect for teachers and others in authority?"
"Are these characters the kind of young people you wish your children to associate with?"
"Does the book speak of and describe pranks, practical jokes and pieces of thoughtless and cruel mischief as though they were funny and worthy of imitation?"
"Is the English good and is the story written in good style?"
Although I have a great deal of sympathy for the character-building nature of the guidelines, I can think of many good books that could fall below their standards.
How would Oliver Twist fare? Or Huckleberry Finn? Or Treasure Island?
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