author
S. H. (Solomon Henry) Clark
1861–1927
An influential teacher of reading and public speaking, this early 20th-century educator wrote practical books that helped students and teachers bring language to life. His work bridges classroom instruction and the art of clear, expressive speech.
1 Audiobook
How to Teach Reading in the Public Schools
by S. H. (Solomon Henry) Clark
About the author
Born in 1861, S. H. Clark was an American educator and author whose full name was Solomon Henry Clark. He is best known for books on reading, oral interpretation, and public speaking, including How to Teach Reading in the Public Schools, Handbook of Best Readings, Interpretation of the Printed Page, and, with F. M. Blanchard, Practical Public Speaking.
Clark was closely associated with the University of Chicago. According to the university's special collections guide, he studied there, earned a Ph.B. in 1897, taught there from 1892, and served as Associate Professor of Public Speaking from 1901 until his retirement in 1921. The same source notes that before that period he had lectured at Trinity University from 1886 to 1892.
His writing has a clear, practical feel: instead of treating literature and speech as abstract subjects, he focused on how people actually read, speak, and teach. That makes his work especially interesting for listeners today, because it reflects a time when reading aloud, voice training, and public speaking were central parts of education.