The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-06-28
Commissioned Cor LOaleasien paris
letter drOHn aBeIluaEngs.

JEENEGs CAlcasieu parish, La, 4
june 5, 1884. i
To the Lake Charles Echo:
i am changing the grammars in my
school, for those of "Wells' Shorter
Course" which includes lessons both
in grammar and in composition. i am
entirely convinced that too much time
is taken up in common schools in
teaching them in detail. Why not
teach both to save timer You know
that time is very precious to those
who can embrace only the benefits of
common education.
We begin o student in fparsing, and
we end him in the same manner,
which is a mere preliminary. Now,
in common schools, grammar should
be taught synthetically, because such
will enable the student to meet the
practical requirements OF life; if he
merely knows how TO parse and ana
lyze his language, snch will be of little
benefit TO him practically.
Even during an extended period,
too much time should not be spent in
these means of intoxicating the abb
straetion when it is the eoneretion that
we need VIC only need just enough Of
the former to teontribnte to the better
understanding of the latter.
The most practical definition Of the
word grammar is too faulty TO be in
the least entertained--why, it DON'T
even cause us to speak correctly; but
when both aTetaught together, each
necessarily helps . proficiency in the
other. "Composition is the means
by which grammar can be taught syn
theticalIy. Therefore, every teacher
is in honor bound. compelled TO re-
form his mannero Of teaching, when
ever reform stares him in the face.
Another reason why we shonld
teach them together is, that we at
once learn the terms peculiar to each,
and thereby become more efficient in
working underthsm. You know that
few of the old grammars nse the terms
peculiar to composition. In many the
Term Hsnbjects is seldom, if ever,
used andlthe term predicate hard
/ ly ever.
Language is a living organism, il
grows and decays, and we must ap-
6prehend that a thorough analysis Of it
Is less possible than that Of the mate
rial world. 50 the masses need only.
understand the application, as their
lives are too mnch taken up in their
yocaii0ns TO extend beyond.
If IN common schools we leach
grammar At all, .we. should keep it and
composition inssperable They should
go hand IN hand, as q means to effect
an entire and beneficial consnmmatien.
We should strive TO so extensively
practice The student IN composition,
That he could write correctly, more
through intention than ihFongh die
fation Of set Fuies and notes.
j do not wish you TO understand me
as being wanting IN due appreciation
for parsing, and for learning applica-
itions BY rules, far fFom ii; hut / eea-
lslner them As more the requisites of
the teacher than Of the pupil, With
4 teacher passing pecaasaFily Esgaeeaeei
analgaiS and analyses the means ny
which lae Gan diasect nampoaisiens
Ilpt NE pupil neesle lllase n little ax-
tent, hnt be needs synlhasis to the
greatest possible extelll
I herewith enelose letter from AIr.
MoFoRay, and excpsc .he annoyance
aelf eanise, ~ means Of Is / hope 10
establish starting point for alohapge
- ieaohing pHr lnpgnage, il only 10
cpr nimmodiaie vicinity. Hhtongh