, 1867-09-20

ullliIlu, u ICAG III HOuS6 1NU. % NlnSSStTeGly
Frederiksted, for a Police-Ofice &C., and of
No. IA B Strandstreet, Frederiksted, for a
Courthouse and offices for the Town. Judge.
The case having been discussed within closed
doors (RuleS of Business 5 y the Council unan-
lm0usly with l3 votes consented to the propO-
sal, say to rent No. SO Kingsstreet from the
LIST of September 1867 at a rental of SIS so pr.
month, and No. IA B Strandstreet from the ist
of October 1867 at a rent of $l4 pr. month.
2, Proposal from the 1st member for Christian
sted's town (Clindinen) that the Council re-
solve to request the Government to cause
steps to be taken as soon as possible for the
abolition of the Phonetic system of ~inStruc-
ton in the rural schools.
The LIST member for Christiansted's town
(Clindinen) stated, that the Phonetic System
mad called forth an expression of opinion from
the most intelligent part of this community,
with the result, that a verdict of condemnation
has been passed upon it. some years ago,
when he was a member of the Colonial Coun-
Gil, it was brought under discussion, and he re-
members well, that also on that occasion the
majority of the members declared it untitled to
accomplish the object for which it was intended.
1t has also been discussed and condemned in a
series of well written articles in the St. Croix
Avis by one, whose abilities and practical
knowledge eminently qualify him to pass judge
ment in the case. 1t has been condemned in
the British Westindia Islands, in England, in
America, in short wherever the English Ian
guage is taught. 1t has received the silent
condemnation of members of the Moravian
Brotherhood, for wherever they have had their
hands free to act as Teachers, they have inva-
riably discarded it, in the confirmation of
which We have the prosperous schools at Erie
densthal and Friedensberg. Finally, he con-
sidercd himself warranted in saying, that if it
has not been directly condemned by the School
Commissions, it has, certainly not met their ap-
proval, inasmuch as if they had regarded it as
q good and useful system, it would have been
recommended for adoption in the Public Schools
of the towns. The advocates of the system
attribute its failure to the short period of in
s~truction allowed. -Four years are however
allotted for instruction, and he was strongly of
the opinion, that, unless there existed some
inherent fault in the method itself, a child from
the age of 6 to 10 years ought to learn to read
fuently the cause is rather to be found in the
exceptional character of the system, the chill
dren being cut off from the assistance thew
might otherwise receive outside the school, in
aSmuch as none can aid them save those that
are conversant with the Phonetic system, the
lumber of whom is but few. Under a former
discussion on this subject, an honorable men,
Der asserted, that at the examinations attended
by him he had heard a number of children read
%fuently, but that they all proved to be "moni-
tors" these "monitors' are however the pick
ed scholars, who have 9 years additional in
s%truction, besides one half hours daily extra
instruction. The education of the people is a
matter of so great Importance, that he hoped
his proposal would meet with that support on
the part. of the Council, which the subject
merited.'
The 3rd crown-member DuBois) was happy
that the Introduction of the present proposal
enables him to refer to the opinions expressed
by him on this subject on former occasions, he
produced and read extracts of letters from sew
eral Principals of Public Schools in Scotland
and England, shelving that the system had been
tried and totally condemned; namely: T. Nor
rison, Principal of Free Church Training
School, Glasgow,-Robt. Anderson, Principal
OF Church of Scotland Normal School, Edin-
burgh,-Revd. F. Rowbottom, one of the Gov
eminent Commissioners on Systems and Train
ing Schools, Battersea.-David Cauehie. Head