Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-09-19

Thefollowing protest entered OF record
by Charles Kortrecht, Esq, member OF
the School Board, who takes high ground
in favor Of education, deserves the sober
second thought OF the members of the
School Board, who ostracized English
grammar from the first five grades of
our city schools. In these grades, spell
ing, reading, penmanship, arithmetic
and geography are taught, but gram
mar-the key to the English language
is ignored, except by little oral in
struction. The art of writing and
speaking the English language with pro
priety" is denied to children until they
reach the two higher graded schools!
1t is ridiculous to say that children can
not learn grammar, but that they can
master geography and arithmetic. The
resolution of the Board excludes nine.
tenths of the pupils from the shrines of
Lindley Murray and other authors, who
place English grammar within the reach
of all. The protest is overwhelming as
an argument against the action of the
Board:
To the Honorable the President and Board of
Education Of Memphis:
desire TO present my dissent from
the action Of the Board at its last meet
ing, in regard to the study Of English
grammar in the city schools. Without
intending to question the motive of any
one who voted for the plan adopted, |
regard it of so much Importance as to
demand my disapproval in q form to
reach those we represent. ~
The policy adopted against the recon-
mendation of your Superintendent prac-
tically excludes nine-tenths OF the pu
pills in the schools from ever being taught
even the rudiments of the grammar of
our common and universal language.
The object of common schools, supported
at the public expense, is to place within
the reach of the masses-the mechanics
and laboring men, upon whose toll the
bread and support of all depends, as
we'll as the more fortunate and wealthy
an opportunity and inducement to have
their children educated sufficiently to fit
them for useful and well paid employ
ments.
The plan you have adopted is to ex-
clude grammar as text book from the
schools during the first five grades, and
| confine it to the last two. The first live
grades are to be devoted exclusively to
spelling, reading, penmanship, arith,,
metic and geography, and to such oral
instructions in grammar as the teacher
may give without text book. The
oral instruction in grammar which the
teacher will give without text book
is, in my opinion, sheer nonsense.
Those who have had experience in
teaching mixed schools, of variety of
studies and classes, will readily appreci-
ate that the teacher has neither time nor
inclination to give oral instruction
without text book " in airy study. 1t
amounts to this: that the children in the
public schools are not to study or be
taught anything, not even the first prin-
eiples Of English lgrammar, until they
have passed through the first five grades
of the schools. and only during the last
two grades.
They are to be drilled, term after term,
and year after year, in arithmetic and
geography, and yet never be taught the
first principles of that study by which
only can they learn to correctly write or
speak what they know Of any and all
studies.
rwo-thirds or more Of the children of
this, or any other city, are taken from
the public school at ages from twelve to
sixteen years to commence the actual
employments Of life. Another large
proportion from being slow to learn, or
later in commencing school, or irregular
in attendance, will never pass the first
| five grades. 4
Why should children in public schools
be drilled for three or four years in
arithmetic and geography, and not be
taught GRAMMAR
Geography is studied principally as an
accomplishment. ! admit the impor-
lance of arithmetic to fit children for
the active employments Of life,
But deny that it is more important
than the study of grammar, by which
they alone can learn to speak and write
correctly. - 4
Ny convictions are-and they are in
part based on considerable experience
in teaching-that justice to the children
in the schools and to the tax payers, who
pay the expenses, demands that good
primary grammar should be used in the
schools rs n textbook, as soon as arith-
metic and geography; and that the chill
dren should be as thoroughly drilled and
taught in grammar after term and
grade after grade-as they are in any
other study.
With these convictions | feel 1t my
duty as a member of the Board to make
this protest against its action on the
subject of the study of English gram
mar in the schools nnder our charge,
and to ask that it be made part of the
record of the proceedings of the Board.
Very respectfully,
CHARLES koRTRECHT,
Member from Sixth Ward.