The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-12-27

oubnt 70 " 70 one VINO can speak the
language alreadyin TO read from the
pen OF an eminent English educator
such words as these; 'Grammar n the
science OF Language; and following
the process OF nature, neither indiyid.
uals nor nations arrive at the science
first. A language is spoken and poetry
written before either Grammar or Pms.
ody is even thought Of. Therefore "A
drammer was made after Language II
ought 70 DO taught after lanRuaRe:n 10
nnd Herbert Spencer remarkInR on
that intensely stupid custom ofteacb-
Ing Grammar to children"
Therefore ! do not hesitate 10 sav
without qualification, that attention to
Grammar, scientifically and methodi.
cally, as a regular text book study.
dnyiDhere bet0p the first and Secoitd
classes In the Grammar School. n an
abfolute waste Of time. Enough for
other classes 10 learn can be orally
communicated In connection with ia
reading lessons. And the study will
prove OF little use even In the upper
classes, unless there shall first nave
beenauch acourse ofBtudy OF language.
as will have impaired Considerable
scope and freedom In the use OF words.
the construction OF sentences and an
expression OF the ideas,
Aud Is 1t not verify crying shame.
that there should be 30 much iinneees.
sary drill In Arithmetic and Grammar.
and such labored memorIzlnR OF use.
less facts In Geography and History.
aud no place be secured 10 the princi,
ples and ttpths OF which have spok kenf
There are the principles OF. irhyaioIoey.
the elements Of natural sciences. he
properties aud uses OF matter. ofnir.
water, light, heat, minerals, metals
Woodsi the materials and processea oi
the mechanical arts; the mechanical
powers, the uses OF steam, the construc.
lon ot the steam engine and the tele.
graph, the materials and manufacture
OF textile fabrics, the PREPARATION Of
1000; and moreover, the nature, fnnc.
lions And departments Of Government.
IN this country OF ours, In which every
10Y who lives, Is, In a few years, 10 be
Tree, voting, responsible citizen: ali
these topics, that are lnwrought with the
very lille and soul OF every davis
thought and action; shall our Grammar
Scnools ignore them, or only take them
up htiully and imperiectly, us the mere
byeplay Of the regular stndIesY What
more imperatively cries out for reyiS.
Ion and reform2"
These extracts suffice to show tba,
the thinking men OF ssachuse,ts are
not only dissatisfied with the general
results Of their system OF education,
but even with It's very elementary
studies and teaching. They have at
last reached a great truth OF human
progress, as written by one OF their
own poets.
The world advances, and In time. outrrova
Ihe LAWS that In our fathers days were best
men, "A'A AS"
In their characteristic features our
public schools are Just what they were
a hundred years ago, whilst the books
to be passed through have multiplied
ten fold, and doubled in size. The
scholarship of those times was limited.
but thorough; now It Is extensive.
but shallow; OF which the former is
far preferable. The great trouble Is too
much book. tits all book and no judg. |
ment. One of the greatest hindrances |
In all our schools is the volumInous
proportions to which the books have |
grown. Our arithmeties, grammars
and Biographies are at least three
times to large; and the added two.thirds
are agreat deal worse than useless.
But, then, 1t is not the interest of the
bookmaker TO make smaller books; and
asa candid New York publisher told me |
last summer, "our school system is
being managed at present In the inter. |
est of publishers, not In that OF the pu. |
pills.