Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-05-08
III 7 s. 0ls Ia u A N =
(From the Common School Journal
s o O = @ II S O n DOL S.


mere are some points in which the schools
oil Scotland are very remarkable In the tho
roughness with which they teach the intel.
fecfaat part oil Reading, they furnish model
worthy OF being copied by the world. No,
only Is the meaning of all the important words
IN the lesson clearly brought out bu, the
whole class or family of words, 10 which the
principal word belongs, are introduced, and
'heir signlficalon given. The pupil not only
gains knowledge of the meaning Of all the
leading words contained in his exercise, but
also oil their roots, derivatives, and compounds:
and thus Is prepared TO make the proper dis
examinations between analogous words when
ever he may hear or read them on future oc-
caslons. For instance, suppose the word
"cTcunlscri6e" occurs in the lesson; The
teacher asks from what Latin words it is de.
rived, and being answered, he then asks wha,
other English words are formed by the help
oil the Latin proposition "circum'' This leads
10 an explanation of such words as ciycum-
specf, circnmUent circumjacent, circunanabieui.
circumference, circumfer, circumf fusion cir
cunanau'gdte. circumstance, circumlocuiion, &c.
&c. The same thing would then be done in
reference 10 the other genealogical component
of 'circumScri6e," viz, "scribo - and here
the specific meaning of the words describe. in
scribe, transcribe, dscribe, prescribe, super
scribe, subscribe, &c. Sc, would be given.
Alter tins might come the nouns, adiectives,
and adverbs, into which this word enters as
one oil the elements, such as scripture, manu
script, &c. The teacher says, Give me a
word which signifies to copy. Pupils. Tran
scribe. r. To write in book, or on tab.
let. p. Inscribe. r. To write upon, or on
the outside of, as on letter. p. Superscribe.
I. To write beneath, or under. p. sub
scribe. L. man goes around to obtain
names Tor book or newspaper; or to get
promises of money for stocks or for charity.
What does he want? II. Subscriptions. r.
And what are those called who give him their
names =. Subscribers. 4. And what is a
copy called p. Transcription. T. Or. bv
| way Of abbreviaiion II. transcript.
The same is done when derivative of the
Latin word 'sPeS" occurs, as in the words i'm
pediment, pedestal. pediment, impede, cape
dtte or of the word ''duco," in induce, pro.
dWce, traduce, reduce, adduce, conduce, in
! ducemeni, induction, deduction, reduction, pro-
duction and then the names of the agents
| or persons performing these several acts are
given.
So of words in which the Greek mgrapho''
is an element, as Geographic, chirography,
graphic, paragraph, telegraph, graphite, Ia
minera.,) SC.
The same exercise takes place in regard to
hundreds Of other words
The Scotch teachers, the great body of
whom are graduates Of colleges, or have al
! tended the university before beginning to keep
school, are perfectly competent to instruct in
| this thorough manner. think it obvious.
however, that this, mode of teaching NAV be
! carried too far, as many of our words, though
wholly OF In part Of Latin or Greek derivation,
have lost their genealogical Specification, and
| assumed conventional one.
But all this,-admrable in its way.--was
hardly worthy TO be mentioned in compar
son with another characteristic of the Scotch
schools; viz, the mental activity with which
the exercises were conducted, both on the
part OF the teacher and pupils. entirely des-
pair OF exciting in any other person, by de-
scriptioD, the vivid impression of mental ac-
tlvity or CELEBRITY, which the daily operations
of these schools produced in my own mind.
Actual observation alone can give ANYTHING
approaching to the true idea do not exag.
gerate when ] say that the most active and
lively schools have ever seen in the tinted
States, must be regarded almost as dormi,o-
ries, If compared with the fefvid life Of The
Scotch schools; and; by the side of theirs.
our pupils would seem 10 be hyberuatirg an
Imals just emerging from their torpid state.
and as yet but half conscious of the bosses
sion OF life and faculties. 1t is certainly with
In bounds to say, that there were six times
as many questions put and answers given, in
the same space Of time, as ever heard put
and given III any school in our own country.
But few preliminary observations are ne
cessary 10 make any description of Scotch
school ineligible.
in the numerous Scotch schools which /
saw, the custom Of piace-taking prevailed; not
merely i'll spelling, but in geography. ar,h
metic, reading, defining, sc. Sc, nor did this
consist solely in the passing-up Of The one
giving right answer above the one giving a
wrong. But il scholar made very brigh,
answer, he was promoted al once 10 the top
Of the class; IL he made avery stupid one, he
was sentenced no less summarily 10 the bot
tom. HcrfOdIcalIy- ri, o,I H.