The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-21
MUST aRAMl1AR GO.


The Newest Sensation In the EduehtlOna
Line.
Pittsburgh Commercial dazGtte.
The first Quarterly Institute Of thu
teachers Of the city schools was held a
the Ralston School, Penn street, on satur
day. There were a number oil class drills
which were very interesting, especially
that OF Miss Ida Hunter, ONO. 8, Miners
vile school. This class astonished the
learned spectators by the proficiency fits
youthful members in adding long columns
ofHgures. Considering their ages, the ieats
discounted anything the "lightning calcu.
lator" ever did. There was no machine
work about 1t, which indicated that Miss
Hunter had perfected method for teach
ing that branch OF mathematics.
The real boom, however, was reserved
to the last. II was generally understood
that Prof. LuCkey's grammar reform would
come up for discussion, consequently q
number OF the Principals came prepared
to do vigorous work on their fayorite Sides
The proposition Is to eliminate technical
GRAMMAR from the list OF studies upon
which pupils are examined preparatory to
entering the High School, and depend
upon the manuscript prepared on other
subjects as test OF their practical knowl-
edge OF this branch. Several Of the Prin-
cipals strongly oppose the plan, feeling,
probably, that 1t is not treating Messrs.
Murray, Kirkham, Pineo and others just
right TO ignore them in this way.
AS we understand 1t, the reform does
not even stop at this, but proposes to go
farther and eliminate lot OF trumpery
from the text books, such as modes"
"tenses, COMPUTATIONS" "dcclensions,"
etc. This is rather sweeping, but it is en-
dorsed by some OF the foremost educators
In the land.
The old educational doctrine that acct.
racy and facility in the use OF language,
written or spoken, are secured by the
study OF grammar, was strongly combat
ted by the friends OF the reform. They
argued that the facts and common sense
were against it, citing the testimony OF bu-
siness men. and Others who have been
well educated, that much OF what they
learned at school was Of no use TO them,
and much which they studied had TO be |
learned over when they attempted to put
~ tutu ptaStlee.
Among those. who took an active part in
the discussion were Professors Jilson and
Allen, OF the High School, Superintendent
Luckey, Of the city schools, and MAORI
ty OF the principals present. Not for
years has there been discussion that ex-
cited such interest and was so warmly ar.
gued. Undoubtedly the address by Prof.
W. G. Lyme, Of the Sixteenth ward
schools, was the address OF the day, and
he was accorded the palm. Though the
youngest principal in the city, perhaps,
he is already regarded as one OF the most
successful. His handling OF this subject
was mastery, showing that he was tho
roughly conversant with all its phases;
besides, the address was eloquent through
out and attracted the closest attention.
His illustrations drawn from ancient, as
we'll as the more modern writers who
flourished before grammar was formed,
and whose productions are the standards
OF the present day, were exceedingly apt
and well timed. After the close OF the dis
cussion he was warmly congratulated upon
his highly successful effort.
The reform will not be allowed to slum-
Der and die, but on the contrary It's friends
have taken heart since the meeting and it
will be vigorously pushed forward.