The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-06-24
For The Cecil Wing.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
NO.-IX.

Should the time ever come when Phonetic
spelling shall supcrcede our present orthogra-
ply, then few weeks instruction will flake
the education of a mird of ordinary talent, so
far as reading and spelling are concerned,
complete. But for the present we Shall have
to admit the necessity for learning the use of
the common spelling, in addition to the pho
netc, and will proceed to show how it has
been accomplished.
In those cases which have come under my
notice, the phonetic pupils have transferred
themselves almost imperceptibly to reading
books in Romantic print. Having acquired
a knowledge of phonetics and phonetics only
by home instruction, they have entered school
at the age'of seven years. Here they joined
class, with children who had been two years
at school, learning to read by the common
method. At first theyequallcd their fellows
in reading and spelling and in a short time
far exccilcd them all. This agrees with re-
ports from all quarters of the United States
and England, in hundreds of similar cases.
These reports have been generally stated in
terms too vague to satisfy the incrcdulous;
therefore will again advert to the expert
mcnt at Boston, spoken of in the essay on
Phonctcs which preceded this scres of arti-
cles. The particulars of this experiment are
stated with clearncss, which places its re-
suits beyond dispute.
~, rt,J ;,,t lNI FAIL ,fJ
under the immediate care of Ethha &. 10th
rop. 1t consisted Of about forty pupils from
five to seven years of age. A few of them
were of German parents, and upon entering
the class could not speak English. During
the first four months they were confined to
phonetic reading and to writing photograph
&c shorthand This writing exercise proba-
bly, occupied half their time, as the charac-
tiers employed bear no resemblance to the
printed letters. Photography alone were an
acquisition worthy of four months study. J
At the end of this period they were transfer
red to the common Romantic books. After
six months instruction such was their pro-
ficicncy that the directors of the school were
willing to exhibit their attainmcnts to public
inspection. An exhibition was advertised
and large and intelligent audience convened.
The pupils displayed adcgree of proficiency
in (Rotnanic) reading, in the analysis of words
and in shorthand that had perhaps never be-
fore been witnessed in promiscuous class OF
children of their age. The auditors were de-
lighted and astonished.
Other exhibitions followed, and soon gen.
cral interest was excited throughout Boston,
in this novel method of graprling with the
obstrusitics of English books. At the time OF
their first public exhibition they made no pre-
tensions to knowledge of the common or
biography. But after that period it was adj
tied to their list of studies. To attain perfec-
tion in spelling all of the 10000 words of our
language is a IIerculean task. Neither pho
nctics, nor anything else; except an uncom-
monty retentivc memory, can do much to nit
gatc it. All that their teachers had reason
to expect, was, that they would equal other
pupils of the same amount Of application.
But this expectation was exceeded. In a
number ofexhibitions and contests in spelling
with other children they acquitted themselves
trcditably, but it will be sufficient here to
specify an examination of twelve members Of
this class which took place before the COM
\ mittee or education Of the Massachusetts leg,
'.'re This body had been pctitiohed to
subject It's encouragement, and the
Acferred to the above named commit
I were present on this occasion the
s.sthe State, Editors and other dis
;. and the result called forth
admiration ofall. At this
-, Aeen under instruction but
= Se last six months only
smmon photography.
spatc, remarked {:
examine young
rs, MS appli-
saavc rare
Nin spell
ss6,