Hrvatska čitanka za IV. razred gimnazijski

The Croatian Textbook for the 4th Grade of Gymnasium by Mirko Divković was published in 1918 as the seventh edition of one of the most widely used school textbooks of the Croatian language and literature. Intended for students in the fourth grade of gymnasium, the book served as a basic teaching aid for learning about Croatian literary heritage, improving linguistic expression and developing cultural education.

The main part of the textbook consists of a selection of prose, poetry and educational texts by Croatian authors from different literary periods. Through the selected excerpts, students acquired knowledge about Croatian literature, developed the ability to read with comprehension and became acquainted with the richness of the Croatian language. The texts were adapted to the teaching goals of gymnasium education and encouraged literary analysis and independent reflection.

The special value of the seventh edition is represented by the additions already mentioned in the title of the book. In addition to literary content, the textbook includes business essays, which introduce students to the basics of official and business correspondence, then the chapter Keep your health, dedicated to the basic principles of hygiene and health care, and Rules of politeness, which deal with the norms of polite behavior in everyday and social life. In this way, the textbook went beyond the framework of literary teaching and had a pronounced educational and practical function.

Today, the work represents a valuable source for the study of Croatian education and educational ideals of the early 20th century, when efforts were made to connect literary education with moral education, health education and the acquisition of useful life skills.