Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-14


parsing, &C., ever do me?n is made APP
parent to the learners mind. Enough
of science, belonging to etymology and
sentence making, must be understood,
by the pupil, to enable him TO perceive
the correct relationship of words, and
also in what respect faulty constructions
consist; but constant application of
these principles is to be made and illus
trated by false syntax. frequently, that
the good result may be made apparent
at all stages of this important work.
If rightly managed. and if done in the
proper spirit, much valuable aid may
be rendered by teachers, and by pupils
to each other, by their calling attention
to errors, whenever noticed, in gram
NAUTICAL syntax, infections. or TO inele-
CANT constructions. Pupils, that desire
to be benefited, will be much more apt
to be guarded in any literary work or in
general conversation.
Correctness of construction, gram
matically. although being an indispen-
sable feature, should not be the only
object sought by the pupils in any grade.
Facility of expression or the ahiiits 90
form nice distinctions, is, to some ex-
tent at least. desideratum by almost all
classes of those engaged in educational
work, and certainly dose not bespeak an
unworthy ambition. Encouragement To-
read much out of school hours and, of
course, matter aside from school text
books, will accomplish much AS an aid
in forming better style of composition
and custom OF repeating or narrating
to others the substance of what has
| been read. to others as we'll as reading
| aloud guarantees iluency in the use Of
spoken language, not otherwise easily
attainable.
This habit of reading, of course, con
cluded, that the selections are elevaling
in their tendency and pleasing in style
| of composition, is not to be confined 10
any special class work, but may be
| recommended for use by all pupils from
second primary schools to all those of
our High School grades. From the
class of persons to be benefited by Syste-
| matte reading we must not exempt our
| teachers, for it is lamentable fact that
a large portion of the teachers in our
| common schools, themselves, very in
different readers, seldom try to benefit
either mind or meditation, by any at
tempt at reading anything beyond an
occasional paragraph in the lesson of
| the day. Such palpable neglect on u
| topic, so important. is worthy OF the
| deepest censure.
Recitation, by subject or paragraph
cal topic, is a very efficient means of
giving pupils confidence in the manner
of expressing the knowledge acquired,
as well as being an incentive for the
preparation of perfect lessons. We may
truly say, that the adage. practice
makes perfect is quite as true when
used in reference 10 spoken and writ
| ten language rs TO any other acquire
ment under the sun. Habits are power
full things always and those that are in
the habit of reciting full topics, if pos
| sib,e, in their own language, if not in
the words from the book. make use of a
powerful stimulus towards a free and
| unhesitating manner of speech. 1t is
not TO be forgotten, that mistakes in
pronunciation, or in any or mmatical
| connection, are TO be corrected if occur
| ring during any recitation or upon any
| topic either at the timeor subsequently.
| Most young people are not aware,
| perhaps, that association with persons
that have, or have had the advantages
of educational influences, offers a very
effective means of improvement to those
| that have been less favored by fortune
or circumstances. This may occur in
many ways, for il is certainly true that
we can always learn something. it we
so will, from those that know more than
we. Reference, in confederation, may
be made to the fact that typc-setters,
| frequently, without any knowledge of
| the principles of punctuation or text
| book science of grammar, will, by the
practice afforded them, in setting up
| properly written manuscript, arrange in
perfectly correct construction forms Of
| subject matter, which was by no means
ready for publication; and we have all
| observed that the children of educated
| persons. with whom, hearing language
| improperly constructed is the exception,
express themselves in proper forms of
etymology and syntax, although they
may have no knowledge of principles
in language. example is most potent
educator for good or for i'll, and the
silent influences exerted by those that
are our frequent associates, often form
prominent and lasting impressions.
| Physical actions and methods of speak
| ing serve as examples, and should be
| accepted from known equals or SUI
periors. and to all classes of youth, who
desire mental improvement. the value
of learned associates ought not be
| overlooked