Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-07-10
SPELLING AND READING.
A Criticism of Modern Methods of Teach.
ing in the Public Schools.

kindly make room for this clipping
which have taken from the "Young
Peoples Weekly" a Chicago Sunday
School paper, and which pertains to a
matter that deserves the widest posi-
bic circulation, in order to bring the
subject of Methods in our primary
school" under just and thorough GO
ing discussion. Our public Journals
can do great service by making much
more prominent this whole question of
theories and results in all our schools.
Here is the item
I'm spite of the magnificent advance
made along many lines of school work
in the last twenty years, it is to be
feared that some of the studies which
form foundation for an education
have been falling into neglect. No
amount of accomplishments can make
good the practical disadvantages of
being poor speller, for example: A
business man of Louisville speaking on
this subject makes some statement of
interest to readers who are looking for
ward to business career.
IF | get into the school board again
and hope to- shall labor to COR
rect one error which our schools are
committing. We are neglecting spell
ing, and are doing pupils a wrong.
believe that there should be spelling
every day through the school course,
up to the very day of graduating. The
president of a big company in this city
told me that he had to discharge four
stenographers, accurate in their short.
hand work, but who spelled so wretch
edly that he was ashamed to send their
typewriter letters to other business
firms. 1t consumed too much time to
correct these errors and he simply had
to keep changing until he secured one
WHO cOulu spell credltably.
Something similar to this was told
me the other day by the head of Main
Street business house that has twelve
travelling men on the road. He was
simply amazed at the spelling in the
letters which they wrote back to the
house. Eight out of the twelve could
not write three lines without incorrectly
spelling as many words and the re-
naming four were not guiltless of err
rors He said that some of these young
men had taken a commercial course,
wrote an excellent hand and were
pushing business men, but that poor
spelling was always draw back, and
male an unfavorable impression upon
the older business men,
The writer wishes to say in connec.
tlon with this quotation that he has
been close observer of the theorizing
and experimenting in the schools for a
number of years and modestly begs to
submit, that of all the important mat.
ters pertaining to the welfare of the
rising generation, this subject of pri.
mary training seems to be treated by
parents and the general public, most
indifferently.
According to my observation not a
few normal, high school and college
graduates are poor readers and spoilers.
There must be cause.
The writer contends that it is largely
due to two things, viz: ~ The word
method in learning to read. (2) The
minds and time OF beginners are crowd
ed with too many things from the very
start.
Let. AS to the word method" Chill
dren are not taught the alphabet in the
old way, nor to combine these charac
ters to make words by the sounds they
represent, but begin at once to learn
easy words, and read by knowing the
words at sight. They begin at once tc
write, and copy the words they are
learning to pronounce. Oral spelling
is a secondary matter.
When they come to oral spelling
they do not pronounce the separate
syllables of words of two or more sy LA
bles, but spell comprehend, ,
naming the letters clear through and
then try to pronounce. 1t will be seer
at once how much easier it would be tt
make out the proper pronunciation oI
the word, if pronounced first by sylla
bles.
Much more time is given to writer
than to oral spelling, thus requiring tn,
children to keep their eyes on the white
paper a great deal, and at the same
time losing the benefit of hearing tht
word pronounced, and also pronounc
ing it before and after spelling aloud
Now, claim that, in the old way o.
beginning to combine the letters il
forming easy syllables and words, thu
beginner gets the habit of using th,
sounds for which the letters stand, 81
as to readily put them into use ant
catch the probable or proper pronunci
alton of words. This brings us to read
ing. And, oh most learned, wise anC
honored school boards, faculties, prin
cipals, in the name of the multitudel
of parents who seem to leave this Who'll,
matter to you, and especially for tht
children, who can never call back theil
time if misspent, let us beg of you Il
stop loading down the soft brain of th,
little ones with so many books ant
studies until they can comprehend
geography and language lessons anC
some other things which rob them o