Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-02-22

Webster defines Composition in litera-
iure as the act Of inventing and combining
ideas, clothing them with words, arrang-
| ing them In order, and In general commit
ing them to paper.
This art of composition is not by any
means a modern accomplishment. 1t was
one Of the hrst acquired and made use of
| by the ancients. 1t has advanced with
science and civilization, and at the pre- sent
time stands among the most useful, IL not
the most important, branches that are
| taught in our common schools.
| Composition does more to prepare a
| pupil for success In many departments of
life than any other branch. Itslso affords
a valuable training to the mind, for 1t re-
| quires closenes. of observation. fullness
and readiness Of memory. and the power
of original thought and invention. II Is
valuable for its own sake because the art
of correct aud elegant expression is an sc-
complshment TO be highly priced,
IL Is a fact that must be apparent TO
teachers, that the subject of composition
has been and now is sadly neglected in
the majority Of the public schools Of Deer
Isle. The probable reasons for this
neglect are
FIrst-That We shrink from introduc-
ing as a study any branch upon which it
has not been customary for teachers to
devote much time and attention in past
years.
Second The grammars now in use re-
| quire scarcely any composition wotk In
connection with the study Of language
Ihird-Thst the teachers have treated
the exercises s. of so little Importance
and the methods employed and results
obtained were 20 unsatisfactory to both
teacher and pupils that Composition
Day" has become to be dread. when by
devoting more time aud personsl attention
to the work, We could make the exercises
one Of the most interesting aud useful as
well as the mos, pleasant.
Children love to talk. They delight In
expressing their ideas and feelings, and
when once they understand that compost
tion l. merely writing what they know or
think. a. they would talk It. they will
begin 10 see AMI understand what Is re-
quired OF them When a pupil is con
yinced OF the Importance of the know ledge
OF composition and that the requirements
are only such a. he alone can supply. then
composition becomes. without exception.
the plea-antesi work of the schooroUm,
to both teacher aud pupil.
In teaching composition, | ind that
pupils think we expect more If them than
they are able 10 give. They seem TO have
the Idea that q composition is trying 10
express what they do not know, or the
striuging of words together after some
mechanical model, instead OF merely writ
Ing simply or naturally what they know
about something.
Agsln, the subject assigned Is often m
suited to the pupil. or the teacher makes
the subject too formal, aud thus takes ali
the life and freshness ont Of H. These
errors In the way Of pupils have been bar
riers 10 their advancement and only few
have been able tp surmount them. There
fore they perform their allotted task mere
ly because they are compelled to do 90.
They put ii of until the last moment and
slip out Of Il whenever they can, and, ss
result, generally scqure artificial forms
OF expressing themselves instead of that
natural and interesting style in which they
converse.
The first requirement In writing 4 com
position is the selection OF subject.
This is one OF the most important parts of