The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-30

- no S1lDlCtl RtiOit WV NNUNfutlVu VI
Professors Of modern languages ut Column
Nh College Friday was the method Of
$cscbine modern languages in
#,lnctiye. historical, and eclectic. stephen
s. pearl Andrews said that he has been en-
81 -,ced for many years in Introducing Isaac
s. pit,nan's system Of shorthand into Ameri-
q "a. and thslth had accomplished great
\ deaI for the analysis OF sound. lie thought
N mai very great contribution to the excel
leuce and success to be attained in the
teaching Of modern languages would
como from what had been elaborated in
1 the study of photography.
long discussion followed on the adj
visibility of teaching modern languages by
the "parrot SyStom." or by "abStract
.fldv." Professor Thomas. Of the Uni
yersi,y Of Michigan, thought that il was
moi necessary 10 speak German a. all, and
that il was not worth while for university
~ attemp, such conversational course.
In the opinion Of Professor HusS, OF
Princeton. German should be taught con-
occasionally, and he recommended the
old system Of first giving sentence
10 student and then questioning him
ab,u; IL. so as % allow him To turn it into
any form. Several OF the professors thought
that il WAS q disgrace 20 many who had
sindied French aud German that when
they went 10 France and Germany they
were unable 10 make themselves under
stood. resolution was handed in from
the society OF NatuIaliSts recognizing the
great importance Of thorough knowledge
Of modern languages. especially Of German
snG French. to students Of natural history.
Professor Cook. Of Harvard, and MIR. COIN.
Of Columbia College, extended invitations
10 the gentlemen present 10 visit their class
rooms and personally inspect their methods
Of imparting instruction.
The afternoon session was devoted TO a
discussion OF the best expcdients for rails
ing the standards Of the studies of modern
languages and the chief obstacles in the
WAY. Into this several reports were in
iecied. and the election Of officers was held.
Professor Brandt. of Hamilton College.
opened the discussion, favoriug the estab-
fishing Of journal Of modern languages.
He would have IN the journal three, and
perhaps four. departments. each conducted
Incompetent men. One department should
be given up 10 English, another 10 French,
third 10 German. and perhaps a fourth
10 Spanish and Italian. II should
have the moral support ana sympathy Of
the teachers OF modern languages. There
SiNllu Ht wv lOI itNtCNS,
On, and original matter. Such journal
would supply the place OF the many philO-
ogical journals now published. on the
eachers' tables, Journals which many OF
he teachers had not time to read and often
never saw. In the discussion OF this
scheme which followed the opinion was
generally expressed that such journal
would fail for want OF financial sup
port. Professor Brandt did not ia
vor popular journal. Professor
March believed all language was OF inter-
est 70 science and mankind. The different
branches Of the natural sciences had Jour-
nai> in which were published facts OF in
tereSt about scientific men and their work.
He would like TO soc the same sort Of a
journal for phllOlogis.s. Such matters as
the translation OF the Bible and Mr..
Adams's address at Cambridge were mat
tiers Of public interest. Language should
be treated as living thing. Professor j.
NJ. Elliott. Of Johns Hopkins University,
favored journal. People from all over
the country wrote him asking all sorts OF
questions. Some means Of communlca-
ton and discussion was needed. There
were other ways of raising the stand
ard Of philology. Just now the need OF
trained teachers was very apparent. In
some sections modern languages were con-
Sidered rs simply accomplishments. He
knew OF one person who was teacher OF
French and dancing, of another who was
advertised rs teacher Of French and lectu-
rer on the preservation OF the teeth. One
gentleman had written him that he had
been appointed Professor of French and
German. when he knew nothing about
either language. To fit himself for his du-
ties he had. subsequent 10 his appoint
mcnt. spent one month in Paris and one
month in Berlin.
At this point the teachers formally
adopted rs the name of their organization
The Modern Language Association"
President Carter. OF Williams College, was
elected president OF the association, and
Professor Elliott secretary. An executive
committee OF eight members was also
elected. 4 resolution was adopted that IN
the opinion of the association the chief
aims TO be sought in the study Of modern
languages in our colleges are literary cul-
ture. pathological scholarship, and linguistic
discipline, but that courseln oral practice
j. desirable Is an auxiliary.
Resuming the discussion Of the question
before the meeting previous TO the perma-
nent organization, Professor Elliott said
that there was Il general feeling that some
thing practical should be suggested by the
ssOciation-somethiHg which would tend
10 elevate The standards Of teaching modern
language. Many suggestions have been re-
ceiyed by him. One was that il plenty VI
money coula only be had anything could
be done. 1--WE might have plenty OF
money!" said the Professor, "but with no
conception Of the qualifications OF teacher
Of modern languages it would avail us
nothing" a preparatory school had
also been suggested. but it would take
time to develop that. There was one point
he desired 70 press. and that was the diyl-
sion OF departments. One OF the great
obstacles in the way Of teaching modern
languages was that the instructors were
saddled with too much. English ought to
be separated from other branches and
should be spread over three-years' course.
Another point was the substitution OF
modern languages for Greek and Latin.
lie believed there should be thorough
PREPARATION in Greek and Latin. 1t was inn
possible TO have good supersiructure OF
modern languages without solid founda-
IL OF the classics. But when Young man
y, It up to college he should be allowed to
choose modera languages instead OF Greek
nd Latin, IL he wanted TO. Modern Ian
1ages should hold place alongside OF
ieent languages. They now occupy an
erior position, even among teachers
1selyes. because the Instruction is not
o the Grade il should have. This feel
wos communicated 10 the students,
% law that modern languages were
OOked down upon. and cOnsequehl-
~ they had no respect for them.
81 believe, said Professor Elliott.
"tbat the st,,dv o. modern languages should
be pushed so that When boy Is through
course whether he knows anything about