Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1815-06-19
Nistflanp.

For the Portland Gazette.
What 10 usually called English grammar is of
but little more utility IN school. than cypher-
ing books.-Grammar! grammar! you barba.
ran! What, attack grammar TOO Don't be
has,y. lsay, what is usually called English
grammar. Issy, i, is Of little utility. And this
bens &. is what. those who study il, seldom think
Of; and il might be OBJ, aimed IN q cheaper way
SO You see. that allow some advantage to arise
from what is ssilsd the study Of English gram
mar viz. it obliges The student sometimes 10
search closely for the meaning OF the sentence
he IS parsing. In this rauad-dbogs srny It may be
of some service. Besides tins, must say, that
considerable experience and observation have
never. in this practice, discovered to me Any
usefulness worth serious notice.
Wishin the resch of my own memory, the
name of grammar wss scarcely known 10 com
mon schools back in the country. Al length
masters csme cut of academies, or on OF ships,
or ont of some where, who protested TO teach
English grammar. Astonishing English gram
mar amongst common folks children Half the
old ladies' expected, even in their day, to see
their dsugbters become Adamses or Moors /;
young lads hands began to grow tender and
the pinnacle of scientific fame was every where
exposed 10 the eyes, perhaps to the grasp, ofthe
vulgar "Ab!" said the old people, gram.
The study of il spread like fire from school
20 school. Visitors (ali visit in the country
were amazed, COMPOUNDED, and filled with admi-
ration TO hear what was qa,te beyond their com
pyehension i thus grew popular extremely
fsst and, in short time, young nan coaio,
in many places, find no employment - teach
er, unless he would make great parade of-he
and his employers hardly knew what. Seldom
was question asked about its utility. II was
grammar !; and that was enough to satisfy OF
over4we all inquiry.
1t is scarcely necessary to observe IN TINS place.
that sheae sirictures are aimed At the practice
of parsisg grammar. as j, is commonly expressed
And VIVA is this practice A mere playing
with words. Or ifit aim at any thing more, II
pretends to anayge the languA ge. Children at
eight years OF age, before they can write sen.
tence ntelgibiy almost, before the powers OIL
reasoning and judgment begin to operate, are
soused hesdlong into the depths OF critical learn
ing and are put upon Investigations, that re
Qure the full exercise of those intellectual fsc-
ulties which are last 10 unfold themselves.
The result is just what We might expect. They
leave The study as wise, as they commenced 1t.
"English grammar teaches TO speak and
write the English language with proprieiy and
despatch:" THIS is definition in almost every
grammar. But affirm. without fear OF contra
diction, that what is called the study of grammar
or in other words. the practice of parslng does
neither of them does not teach The STUDENT
either to speak or write with propriety and des-
ps,ch. These Gun be learned only By practice, ana
fom limitation in my mex ] VIII follow hts
las, dea little farther and perhaps, from
these small beginnings, may yet arrive =,
some conclusions, of no hs,le consequence IN The
business of education.
TRIos.