Unusual U.S. Government Publications, Part Five: Bureau of Education Home Reading Courses

Once upon a time—beginning during the World War One era, and extending into the 1920’s, to be precise--your federal government would grade you on your reading of Dante’s Inferno, among other works. Those who successfully completed the program received a certificate.

All this was part of the Bureau of Education Home Reading Courses of the time. See an example here (scroll down to read more about the program).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat