New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-07
CHILDREN AND LOUD READING.

Several correspondents Of THE Tribune
have lately called attention to the prevailing
incapacity Of public school children to read
we'll aloud. The indictment might have in
cluded the pupils Of private schools as Justly.
II Is fact Of common observation that almost
al children read badly, and that in consequence
good reading among adults Is much rarer than
II ought to be. In the latter case the defect
may be largely matter Of confirmed habit, and
indicate nothing diScreditable to the mental
development Of the dplnquents But In the
case Of children IL is true, as general PROPOSE
lion, that the ability to read we'll aloud is .
pretty fair test Of capacity in other directions.
Tor this reason the complaint brought against
the schools Is 4 very serious one, since 10 i'm
plies much more than 10 alleges. A quick mind,
general Intelligence and command Of the eyes,
the voice and the facial muscles are essential
TO good loud reading, and q child OF fen years
or moro who Is unable to read sgreeably and
wnderstandingly may without injustice be as
sumcd IN be deficient in these respects.
1t is true that investigations have shown in
recent years that very large number OF chill
dren suffer from imperfect vision. For their
continuance in this condition not they but their
parents are responsible. But it is also true
that in many cases there Is no. inherent defect
Of sight, but merely that the native capacity OF
good eyus to See accurately and to see several
contiguous objects at the same time has re-
maihed undeveloped. No physiological fact Is
better established than that the eyes can be
trained to a very high degree Of perceptve
power. OF course, there are individual apti-
tudes In this line as In all others but IL Is prob
ably safe 20 say that the varying ability of
persons equally familiar with the principles and
practice Of music to play fuently ut sight upon
the piano, for instasce, depends quite as much
upon their eyes as upon their fingers. And so
one person with a book before him sees three
or four words at once while another distin-
cuisines only ono word at a time. In general il
may be said that the latter is never good loud
reader. In adults the mind behind the eyes
may be quick enough, but, generally speak
ing in children the understanding is equally
feeble.
We have In mind school in New England
village the founder proprietor aud principal
Of which had q angulsrly sound taste in lit
erature, and made loud reading almost hobby.
Some Of his boys did not learn much besides,
but very few Of them ever left him at any age
without being able to read at sight huently,
undetstandingly aud agreeably. There were
no parrots among them. They read well be.
cause they had been taught how TO use their
eyes and their voices, and had learned the
| difference between good and bad prose and
poetry, the relations of words and ideas, and
maiiy other things which school-bOoks say little
alb out And when they went to other schools
and began the definite work Of preparing for
college they found tasks very easy which were
q burden to most.
II would be hard to oxaegerate the Importance
of this matter or to oritioise too severely teach
ers who neglect and parents who are indifferent
10 il. II is our deliberate opinion that, disre.
gsrding every other mental aptitude and &C
qulrement, any parent might be we'll satisfied
with a child Of twelve years who was able To
give genuine pleasure TO Intelligent and impair.
tial listeners by reading piece Of good liter.
ature aloud at sight.