The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-02-10
Enuratlonal.
For The Potter Journal.
T 0F t7tt 7 UtteI y Ofts 7tt4t.
Letters On PhOnetiCs.. No. Z.

0d0ptnag the Phonetic Methed
We have on Y to reverse the censures
passed upon the ordinary spelling to ar
rive at an estimate of the new. A child
once instructed in the elementary sounds
and the method of combining them, to-
gether with the characters by which they
are conyentionally represented, will know
instantly, as soon as he sees a written
symbol, what sound he is to utter, and as
soon as he hears a spoken sound, what
symbol he is to trace Within three
months may this knowledge be acquired
by child Of four years, or an adult of
forty. The gate of knowledge would be
thrown open with both its valves. To
read, would be to hear; to write would
be to speak
! Other nations would be readily able to
comprehend our language-the easiest in
the world to acquire, but for its present
orthography, and destined to be carried
over the whole globe, by the energy of
its speakers. The years now wasted by
learning a dull catalogue would be saving.
a small portion OF the time would be
pleasantly spent at the commencement of
a chlld's schooling, or before he goes to
school, under the care Of his mother, in
acquiring the true sounds of language,
putting them together and connecting
them with the symbols for writing; thus
giving him practical acquaintance with
analysis and sythesis, and a feeling for
tsymmetry and law He will also learn
the advantage Of knowledge and its test;
he will find that he knows, because by
applying the simple rules he has learnt,
he can discover new results. He will
thus be able to understand Vaguely of
course, at first, as all children udderstand)
the use OF being taught,-the use of GO
ing to school. He will see the value of q
teachers instruction, and will yield him
not blind, but an intelligent obedience.
Hence, we may look forward to such
change as national blessing, to be earn
estly striven for with heart and hand.
Nr. Editor, in looking over your paper
! [ noticed report Of Teachers Asso-
citation" which to me is very interesting.
The Resolutions adopted | heartily sup
port. The Resolution offered by Mr.. J.
! ". Bird, (''Resol0ea, That the word
method IS the best method of teaching
pupils to read, y | should like to say
few words on. am glad it is accepted,
and as |, of course, cannot be there at the
Red School House in Roulet," | assume
the right, or privilege, to say few words
I "a p "a 20 Of ha
| lution---t is not the best method of teach
! ing pupils to read. In one of my former
letters | have advertsd to this system,
which is also known as the look and
| say method. The teacher points to
word and utters the sound, and proceeds
IN this way with every new word, until
the child recognizes it when shown again.
In this way the child learns to read with
out learning a single elementary sound,
as such, or the letters, which are the rep
Ireseutatives of sounds.
But this method does not fail to display
the system of our photography in all its
native ueiness Sooner or later spelling
must be studied, and then contradictions,
Iabsurdities, Inconsistencies, antiquities,
and long train of evils present them
selves to the learner. The best method
of teaching child to read is the Phonetic
method. | speak advisedly when say it
is the best method also of teaching the
present anphiI0sophtcal, cumbersome and
difficult system. The transition from,
Phonetic to Romanic Is easily made.
DR.. Stone, of Boston, true philan-
thropist, instituted an experiment in or
der to e.chiJit the value of the phonetic
system, Of which he published the follow
ing account in 1851:
" Fifty children, of from two and half
to seven years of age, have been taught
to read at a private phonetic school, by
Miss Emma L. Lothrop, in the Warren
street chapel, where persons interested
are invited to attend on any weekday
from ten to eleven Q clock only. The first
elias. il composed of twelve children who
commenced the study of the phonetic sys.
tenn in September last, (about SIX monshs
past,) since which time they have been
absent from school on the average, three
menths each, in consequence of sickness.
When in the school they have received
about two hours instruction daily in read.
ing and the analyzation of words the re-
mander Of the time having been devoted
to other exercises, and to the rest of the
school. In September two Of the chill
dren knew their letters, and could spel
out few easy words but the majority
aud those who are now the best scholars,
could not then read at all, and did not
even know their letters. Three of the
ct'58ren, from tbrst-and-a haY to four