The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-17
ENGLISH IN OUR SCHOOLS.

The recent meeting of the New York
Schoolmasters' association ought to
prove Of special interest to the teaching
all over the United States,
rendered noteworthy, as it was, by the
able and scholarly address of Prof.
Thomas r. Price, the incumbent Of the
chair Of English literature at Columbia
college. Choosing as his subject "Eng-
lish as School Study" the lecturer
discussed and upheld with all the abil-
ity and authority Of specialist the de-
STABILITY and necessity Of thorough
education in this branch of public
school work.
He began by pointing out that at last
the status Of this study was reaching
it's proper level in the schools of our
country, and referred with satisfaction
to the explosion of the old popular fal-
lacy that the study Of English was a
mere preliminary step towards the &C
QUESTION by the pupil of Latin and
Greek. School instruction in English,
the speaker declared, SHOULD have in
view the higher study of English itself"
In this view the professor is undoubt-
eddy right and is expressing the senti
ments of the best scholastic authorities
of to-day. In descriptive power, as in
philosophical strength, English stands
unrivalled amongst the languages that
are now or have at any time beeu in use
upon the earth, and, if the requisite
ability, enthusiasm and experience can
be found in the teacher, no better men,
tai discipline can be- devised for the pu-
pill than an exhaustive analysis of the
language and thought of any Of the
great masters of our literature. The
study of Latin and Greek authors falls
far short in the comparison. 1t has
been too long the habit to assign to
English an obscure position in the
school curriculum and look upon it rs
q mere incidental in scholastic training.
'tOf late years." the speaker proceed
ed, 'It had been recognized that the
English language furnished the largest
number Of facts to be observed, remem-
bered and reasoned upon. 1t was now
acknowledged that English had great
advantage over other languages in many
respects. It was the strongest language
for predicate sentences. To English
students it opened up as no other Ian
guage could the laws of logical order
A course of study in sound
English diligently pursued for six
months would secure mental results
equivalent to those which would be Sc
cured by three years of Latin and Greek
without substantial basis Of English
start upon. According to his obserya-
ton most of the bad English to which
students were addicted was tracesble to
their translatlons of good classics. y
Words of most weighty import and
worthy of the most serious considera-
ton aud heartily welcome by every
teacher in the United States.
The speaker concluded with some
sound, practical advice. A knowledge
Of the functions Of words rather thar
mere glib definitions is to be desired
first of all. Let spelling and definitions
6uCCocA w bAAcs A<CV OSAlOAuAo oSuSAy WV
masterpieces of English literature ant
by no means neglect the moderns. Ii
reading, the Importance Of thorough
analysis of both words and sentence
could not be overestimated. Thinking
we'll must precede writing we'll. Origi
nal composition must follow initiative
not anticipate it. A correct and forci
BILE style in the teacher himself canno
be too strongly insisted upon.
The interesting discussion that fol
lowed showed most gratifying al
probation of the claims of the lecture
who proved himself an earnest studen
and an enthusiastic advocate OF til
rightful position in our schools OF tn
study of our own tongue. We canno
too highly commend Prof. Prices lectur
to the attention and study of all teach
ers whose hearts are in their work.