The Novel and the Common School

"The Novel and the Common School" by Charles Dudley Warner is a study from the 1800s that looks at how education grew in the U.S. The writing especially concerns the part that novels and literature play in schools. Warner talks over how Americans' learning comes from and reflects their schooling, which brings up questions about the books students read and how those books form their likes and learning powers. He argues that schools push people to read not-so-great books. Warner argues that the famous stories usually match low feelings instead of building up better thoughts or artistic worth. Warner says that if the schools taught advanced literature, kids and adults would learn to like, request, and help better books.