The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-02-17
The Spelling Reform.
TO the Editor of the Standard:
BY JOSEPH MILLER.

To the Editor of the Standard:
As did not attend the Institute, held
during the holidays, | did not hear the
criticisms, to which Mr.. Rays article on
the above subject, was subject, and as no
one has publicly criticised the Iticle
since its publication, permit me to say a
few words relative thereunto.
The opinions of country school teach.
ers will not, of course have much inhu-
ence in matters of such mighty concern,
but Great oaks from little acorns grow, F"
and many small streams will form a
river.
That thorough reform, in spelling, is
very much needed surely no intelligent
person will deny.
Sticklers for the old and established
order of things are in one sense, neces-
sary, as they prevent most new ideas
from being too speedily adopted; but to
cling to any theory because it is "old,
or established" or because our fathers
did" is certainly absurd.
The chief objection usually urged
against aphonetic mode of spelling, are
first, That the present method (if meth
cd it may be called is old" Second,
That it is necessary in order to show
the derivation of words"
Now as to the first, our present meth
cd is not SO very old after all. / will
give a few samples
THUS remaining in this haven the
space Of a weeke, seeing the yeare fare
spent and very evil wether-as frost,
snowe and halle as though it had beene
the deepe of winter, wee tn ought it best
to winter there. - Sir Hugh Willough-
by, English Captain, 1858.
hYf vt be possible you shall leave some
persons to winter in the straight, giving
them instructions how they may observe
the nature of the eyre and countrie, and
what TYNE of the yeare the Straight is
most free from yce; with who you shall
leave victualls, a pynnas, and thyngs nee
essarie. - English Doc. (officiaD of 1878.
also find, heape, sayle, haire, povertie,
miserie, griefe, keepe, colde, beastes,
dyall, sunne, fonle, extreame, meanes,
feare, extremitie, pittifully, and others
in the spelling of 1896.
Many other examples might be shown,
but the above is sufficient to show that a
great change has been made, and for the
better. Would the sticklers for the "old"
method ~ be willing to go back to the
above method2
If we are a progressive people, we
should certainly make some improve
ment in spelling. I'd. And why try to
show the derivation of words by their
spelling2 Not more than one in hun
dred cares anything about the derivation
of words. What difference does it make
to the masses whether the words we use
are of English, French or Dutch origin
and more: The origin of few is really
shown by their spelling. The best
scholars in our land cannot tell the
origin of one-tenth of the words in COM
mon use, without the aid of some work
designed for that purpose.
If we want to understand such valua-
BILE subjects, let US study them in earnest,
and in a proper manner, and not burden
others with a system which, to say the
least, is very imperfect and unsatisfac-
tory. And would it not be better to be-
come good English scholars before we
attempt to learn a language that is, com
paratively, of little use?
Again it is argued that, as we use the
English language, the reform must begin
in England We did not wait for Eng
land to set us an example in selfgovern-
ment, the rights of man, etc, then why
should we be SO particular in this re.
spect2 Many words are not spelled here
as they are in England, even now, and
others have, decidedly, an American pro-
nunciation.
Doubtless. if such a reform were at.
tempted, there would be much conten-
ton, as each one would have his own
peculiar plan. But whether we repre-
sent each elementary sound by charac-
ter emphatically its own, or whether we
make a judicious use Of the character
which we now have, is Of minor impor.
tance One thingis certainly self-evident,
each and every sound should always be
represented one and only one way; all
words and parts of words sounded alike
should be spelled alike.
Now, fellow-teachers, / want you to
criticise this article, conscienciouly, oil
course, and let friend Mackley do the
/ same.