Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-06-14
KIN GSVILLE.

Ed. Ieteqrdph:
In accordance with my report of last week
the Pres. Church was filed with our best
citizens last Friday evening to listen to lee
ture on Leaning the English language in our
Common Schools"
NJ w. Wright was chosen Chairman. A.
ter "a duett that was splenddly rendered ly
Messrs Geer and Greenly. The chairman
introduced the speaker who commenced by
calling attention to the rapid dcctriccalion
of the language, showing some of its causes
and expressing belief that "slovenly SEN
tences are surely indicative of slovrnly
IDEAS as profane words are Of corrupted
heart" Calling attention TO the fact that
! there may be more than metaphorica truth
in this declaration. Words that stal't be
| judged"
| While efforts have been made in this dire
cton the reason that the evil has not been cur
| is that the force used has not been direct
ed against the adults have needed them
not. 1--WE have tried at flood-time TO. dam
the Nile at its mouth with bulrushes. We
must begin nearer the fountain with the
child"
An answer to the question "HoU ItAI ia
Soork be done? He showed that the greater
part of it must be done by that class who
are expected TO be as wise as Solomon an
as meek as Moses-to combine the earnestness
of reformcr, with the tender philanthropy
ofa Nightengale-to be as wise as serpents ant
harmless as doves at the rate of four or tiv'
dollas u week and found--the teachers OF tn
common schools"
After showing that the development ant
growth Of intellect have made reason an,
science unnatural for children. he proceedet
: 10 answer the question. "H1D MdHMfs tc0r
be done!" AS the child learns the languag
by mmitatng the words il hears, pure Eng
lish only should be used in the home circle
The speaker cut close at the nonsense of tn
} nursery and the minced up English of the bou
r doir Coming To the work TO be done in tn
schools he first attacked in trenchant style, I'll
idea that ii is necessary or proper TO teac
: grammar TO young children. Taking til
ground that as language is an art it shou
9 be learned as are other arts, by the practic
5 o it and not by theorlzing about it. Theor
f being necessary to the highest development
of art Il should 1e studied at some time, but th
time for the children do not come in the con
mon schools. He thinks we shall have taken
3 long step forward when we can unitedly 50
e 1--WE will have no more formal grammar taugl
: In the common schools" lie then Shove
q how 10 teach language lessons in eight of tn
r first years of school life, illustrating the meth
g cd of teaching Misunderstanding pictures
II of which supply were circulated in the al
!. dience for the purpose of original devices f
Il explaining to children some of the simpl
r rules of Syntax-object lessons, story telins
n etc. insisting at every step upon reprodu
o ton by the pupils.
h Several incidents drawn from the speaker
k own experience proved highly amusing, viii
e they were made 10 illustrate their meaning
= In conclusion he said that he would han
d over the door to every school the metaphor
i ical sign "Pure English used here" He url
s. ed the teachers to make faithful preparatio
It for their work, for IL the blind led the blin
5. both will fall into he ditch. No one ca
l. teach anything well that he does not fuiiy a
# derstand. To teach language successful
D. the teacher must be enthusiastically full
l. The subject.
% xIf the cask be well filed, 1t will run
" tapped anywhere. He charged his feAo
IS teachers 10 preach the word. be instant
/. season and out of season, ieproye, rebuke, c.
Is hort with NIL long suffering 10 doctrine"
,e Tie lecture over vote of thanks was !
4. turned to the speaker, for the very intereslin
a and Profitable subject so admirably presen
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