Educating by Story-Telling: Showing the Value of Story-Telling as an Educational Tool for the Use of All Workers with Children

An educational guide written in the early 20th century. This book advocates for the use of storytelling as a powerful educational tool for those working with children, emphasizing its role in enhancing learning experiences and moral development. The author presents the value of storytelling not just as entertainment, but as a means to enrich children’s lives and education across various subjects, promoting a deeper understanding of literature and life principles. The opening of the work establishes the author's extensive experience with children and outlines the intention behind the book, which seeks to provide a structured approach to effective storytelling in educational settings. The author discusses how storytelling can be a vessel for cultural heritage and moral values, illuminating children's imaginations and interests. Cather proposes that an understanding of children's developmental stages and interests is crucial for selecting stories that will resonate with them, encouraging educators to adeptly match narratives to the psychological needs of their students. Overall, the beginning sets a foundation for the exploration of storytelling’s transformative potential in both the classroom and home environments.