The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-04-23
]. HOLCOMB, Editor & Publisher.

II appeared that they had attended, as
class, a course of lessons in phono,ypl
equivalent TO TWO weeks OF six days eac h
and six hours a day, amounting in all, t
seventy-twG hours OF study extending owe
a period of about six weeks. The exper
iment was made under many disadvantag
es. The pupils were not only ignorant
bu. utterly unused to mental application
Their want Of familiarity with books, car
scarcely be appreciated by those who have
used them from childhood. L! was found
10 be difficult for them 10 keep the atten.
ion on mi line, following it from left c
RICH, and then returning TO commence a
the next line.
The course of instruction was interrupt.
ed by the daily avocalion of the pupils. by
sickness in one case, and by the opposition
Of friends, 10 the experiment. Their at.
tendance on the recitalions was quite IL
regular. Three different individuals ac-
ted at different times as teachers, all inex-
pericnced, and each having a different
method Of institution. The books employ
ed were found to be printed on too fine a
type Tor adults, as they often complained
that it panied their eyes TO read. The
large charts of the Phouo,ypic Alphabet,
now employed, could not be procured al
the commencement Of The course. The
place of instruction being used for other
purposes. The attention Of The pupils was
necessarily diverted from the teacher
Such were the difficulties with which
The experiment had to contend, as the Com.
mi,,ee learned by enquiring into lis histo.
ry.
1t was suggested to the Committee, that
the exhibition ought not 10 be regarded as
a decisive trial Of the value Of the Phonet-
ic Alphabet in teaching. The pupils were
brought, for the first time in their lives,
probably, before a large and respectable
audience, and. certainly, for The first time
10 furnish a literary entertainment. The
APPLY observed that the audience
should imagine what would have been
their own embarrassment, II called upon,
for the first time, 10 read Hebrew to a
assembly after seventy hours study
under great disadvantages!
The exhibition consisted Of reading
from a Phonolypic chart and book. The
chart contains iorty-two characters, which
each one Of the sounds of our
spoken language. The pupils have had
nothing to learn, but The a~ssocia.
ion of a singIe definite sound with each
character. The teacher points with his
rod 10 a character. Its sound is given by
The pupils. Then he points to another
aud another. When the sounds are
uttered, the word is 10 reality pronounced.
exhibiusa was very interesting, as
10 show that the whole art Of
reading and spelling, whose acquisition
now consumes years Of painful study, (tt
a season Of life. 100, when the mind should
not be confined to dumb artificial signs,)
be reduced to learning the sounds
conven,ionalIy attached TO forly>two char
ac,ers. II was evident, in fact, that there
was no special merit in the pupils, except
that Of u IaudabIe desire for improvement.
The women read surprisingly well in
monoaylIables, and some Of them equally
well in polysyllables.
At the close Of the exhibition, the Com.
mi!tee elected from gentlemen presenI,
evidence of the time required TO learn 10
read the English language. The evidence
was such as to sci the advanta ges OF the
new system in a strong light. 1t was
known to the Committee, beforehand, that
some persons holding college diplomas
have not vet learned to spell The language
correctly. But the exhibition Of the new
mode OF reading led them 10 the conclu'
sion, that if the Phonotypic characters
can be introduced, all mistakes must necN
e%ssariIy cease.
In this report he Committee confne
themselves TO a statement of the facts that
were brought before them. and Of the con-
illusions thereupon. They have not, all
of them, been able to give that a,tentlon 10
the new system, which would be needful
to enable them to speak confidently npon
its merits. They cannot, however, dis
guise The conviction, that it presents claims
Of no ordinary character upon the candid
and careful consideration Of the friends
of learning, Of popular education, and o
humanity.
GEORGE r. EMERSON,
EDWARD N. KIRK,
CHARLES SUMNER,
AMAsA WALKER.
Tor the Voice oil Freedom.
C4o4o E.ronooe