Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-10-25
U PUBLIC
An Explanation of the Method of Edu,
cation Enforced by the Board
OF school Visitors.

Editors Appedi-I am sorry to again askspace
in your paper, but judging from the last arti-
Gle in the Avalanche, OF the oath instant, one
would naturally conclude that they had closed
their arguments on the subject, II the edito-
rails for the last three weeks on the "gram-
mar question" In that paper are entitled to be
called arguments, for l must confess 1 am
wholly at a loss TO define their position on the
subject. One morning Its readers are haran-
gued on the importance of introducing gram
maj early; the next, they are lectured upon
the superiority of primary grammars as "text
books" and again, as in their issues ofthe 18th
and 9th, they amuse themselves by attempt
ing to reflect upon me as chairman OF the com
mittee on teachers and textbooks. The pub
lie, feel confident, Will excuse me from re-
plying to the last, and 1 promise, if they will
give me their attention, in as few words as
possible, to define the position taken by the
board of education on this important quss-
ton. In our public schools we have but two
distinct gTades-a primary, or grammar grade,
and the high school grade. The primary de-
partment Is divided Into seven grades-the
seventh being the lowest grade, snd number
ing downward; grade number one therefore
being the highest grade in the primary
department. The questions presented, there
fore, to the committee were: First, in which
of these seven grammar grades shall the study
OF English grammar be introduced, and what
character of book shall be placed in the hands
of the beginner. Sine committee selected the
first term of the third grade, because when the
child Is ready TO enter that grade, he or she, in
the first place, can read well. Query How
do you know? Because, in the fourth grade,
the one the child has just left, the teacher is
required to teach reading thoroughly, and to
advance the child as far as the one hundred
and seventy-seventh page of the Third read
er. Again, the child has acquired some
knowledge of arithmetic and geography; they
have not been "drilied year after yeaI in these
CfHndfaa - lint haNrp hQFllW hauan than . in
other words, the child hiss gone to the ninety
first page-in what? Why, the primary book
on geography, and TO about the same IN prt-
advanced to the third rate from the
fourth, we sy to the teacher, this
child is not, strictly speaking. ready
you that while the child is pursuing the
studies prescribed for him in this grade, you
that is to say when we call this pupil from your
room in order that we may advance him to
one higher, we require that you snail nave
taught him all of photography, as well as
the definitions OF The several parts Of speech
(al that primary grammaTs ever claim to do;
also that the child be able to recognize and
point out the several parts ofspeech in reading
either his daily lessons or from examples fur
nished by the examiners at the fune of the
pupils promotion. Educational journals for
the last fifteen years have been leaning with
t~reatises On oral instruction, and the expert
ence of all educators has been that for begin
ners it is the wisest course; therefore we re-
4uAAC bAAAS pAAAld4g Ahsd hCNAOA " OAoA II lit
teacher is not qualified to give ii, and Il am
frank TO admit that just at this point the
merits ofthe teacher are thoroughly and fairly
testedD Why, them indeed, you may say the
public money Is wasted by retaining them in
their positions. Now, by following the pupil
after he has passed through the third term
and enters the second, here the grammar is
placed into his hands He has already re-
ceived in the grade below oral instruction in
grammar, and we find him through his pri-
mary geography and advanced to 10th page n
practical arithmetic. Now a k the pupil on
through the next two grades, and he Will have
then finished his primary course and ready TO
enter the high school department.
We did not select Covells' Digest, but found it
already in use, and retained IL because we
knew of better.
Now, Mr.. Editor, allow me to say that this
question was not disposed of without debate
by the board. On the contrary, it was known
to BE- pending before the board for three
months, and whenever the friends of the
measure moved its adoption, il was ably ap-
proved by Mr.. Kortrecht. 1t was finally unan-
imously adopted, (Mr. Kortrecht not voting,
and possibly was not presently
Believing that the editors Of 1.-THE Avalanche
do not fully understand this subject, l have
taken the trouble to state explicitly what the
board of education has lone. 1 have no dispo-
sition to discuss the matter, nor do I propose to
say anything further upon the subject.
Thanking you for your kind indulgence,
lam, very respectfully,
JNO. l. H. TAYLOR.