The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-09-13
Ear the PaIlssium

Asssrs. Editors:-I have just seen an ar
ticle on Phonetics by Omega" il the last
Palladium, which seems to challenge notice
from some one acquainted with the new sys-
TEN of Spelling, and being somewhat inter
ested in the matter. / propose answering his
questions as far as my limited space viii al
tow
lst The basis of Mr.. Royce's argument
was made from the fact that great deal of
time is required for children to acquire the art
of reading. and that, very imPerfectly. He
assumed that the time lost in acquiring the art
of reading is two years which | consider
low estimate an assumption based on his
own experience as a teacher, and the expert
ence of Others Further proof of this "Ome-
ga" will find in any of our common schools.
The time varies with different schools. owing
to the greater or less approximation 10 pho
netics of the system employed, and the intelli-
geuce of the teacher.
Cd. The evidence is yet to be found that
children of ordinary capacity" learn 10 read
even ''iolerably" in less than one year
81. The want of proper Judgment and
attention on the part OF teachers has heen
one reason why some children have been SO
long learning to read But the stupidity Of
teachers is small impediment in the child, S
way in companion TO the incomprehenslble
anomalies and absurdities of romantic orthog-
rapy, and what the prospect is for speedy
and easy requirement of the mysteries OF
reading by the child when both of these are
to be overcome. one best judge whose
brain has retained its power sufficient to pass
through The ordeal. With the teacher the
orthography is strong plea for phonetic spell
ling.
18th. Certainly community should inves,i-
e. IL LIZ
portant change, and that is just THAT pho
neticians desire most. And further in answer
to this as well as to the ffth question. | will
make this proposition: that the citizens of
Richmond shall select two classes of children
Of twelve each, which have never been taught
to read by any method one of which shall
be taught to read to the common method un-
der the instruction of their chosen teacher
and the other by the Phonetic method under
the instruction of such teacher as the friends
Of that system may select.
Over half hundred of such experiments
have been made in Massachusetts, with a prize
of several hundred dollars for the best reader
and speller phonetically and romanicaly
which prize was, without an exception. voted
to the phonetic student by the committee
Which committee was several times composed
of some of Massachusetts, best scholars,
among whom may mention. Hon. Charles
Summer. Amasa Walker, Horace Mann, Prof
II. W. Longfellow. Elk Governo. Boutwell,.
&c, all of whom highly exto!led the new
system of photography. In letter to friend:
Horace Mann used the following language
The children you exhibited had certainly
made wonderful proficiency; and were in sew
eral Of the essentials of good enunciation and
reading. years in advance of most children
taupht in the old way''
The reader will mark that Mr.. Mann SAYS
'the essentials of enunciation;'' good enunci-
alton has never been and can never be secur-
ed by the old method; its deficiency is clearly
exempliiied in almost all our public speakers,
their words being uttered in a kind of mum
BILE tumble, thick liped style. Phonetics is
the remedy for this
want or more space Will not admit of furth
er quotations or remarks in this article, but if
any one wishing to investigate the subject
desires, will furnish him with the necessary
documents. ALPHA