The Guardian of Education was the first successful periodical dedicated to
reviewing children's literature in Britain. It was edited by
eighteenth-century educationalist, children's author, and Sunday School
advocate Sarah Trimmer and was published from June 1802 until September 1806
by J. Hatchard and F. C. and J. Rivington. The journal offered child-rearing
advice and assessments of contemporary educational theories and Trimmer even
proffered her own educational theory after evaluating the major works of the
day. Fearing the influence of French revolutionary ideals, particularly
those of philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Trimmer emphasized orthodox
Anglicanism and encouraged the perpetuation of the contemporary social and
political order. Despite her conservatism, however, she agreed with Rousseau
and other progressive educational reformers on many issues, such as the
damaging effects of rote learning and the irrationalism of fairy tales. The
Guardian of Education was the first periodical to review children's books
seriously and with a distinctive set of criteria. Trimmer's reviews were
carefully thought out; they influenced publishers and authors to alter the
content of their books, helped to define the new genre of children's
literature, and greatly affected the sales of children's books.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian_of_Education
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1521:
Pope Leo X issued the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem, excommunicating
Martin Luther from the Roman Catholic Church after Luther refused to retract
41 of his 95 theses.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_X)
1749:
Benning Wentworth, Governor of the New Hampshire Colony, began to issue the
New Hampshire Grants on land which was also claimed by New York, and is now
Vermont.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_Grants)
1848:
Joseph Jenkins Roberts began his term as the first President of Liberia.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Jenkins_Roberts)
1888:
The 91-cm refracting telescope at the Lick Observatory near San Jose,
California, USA, at the time the largest telescope in the world, was used
for the first time.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lick_Observatory)
1959:
The Alaska Territory, an organized incorporated territory of the United
States, became the 49th state of the union, and the first U.S. state outside
of the 48 contiguous states.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Territory)
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
reminisce (v) 1. To recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or
nostalgically.
2. To talk or write about memories of the past,
especially pleasant memories.
(
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/reminisce)
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
The rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or
small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands,
those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task,
though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can
still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come.
--"Gandalf" in The Lord of the Rings : The Return of the King by J. R. R.
Tolkien
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien)