New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21
PORMfNG 4 LITERARY MUSEUM.
PROFESSOR y. N SCOTT, OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF MICHIGAN AT WORK ON
UNIQUE COLLECTION.
From The Chicago Tribune.

From The Chicago Tribune.
f. N. Scott Junior professor OF rhetoric at the
University Of Michigan. has commenced col
lection. certainly unique and possibly Of consid-
cradle future value. He calls Il museum OF
student composition" and intends to embody in
II specimen exercises written at stated intervals
by children In the schools Of this and several
other countries. The compositions so gathered
together he believes, will make It possible to
determine with reasonable accuracy the stages
OF growth OF young persons faculty OF express
sion and to trace a law Of normal development,
80 that In individual cases II can be ascertained
whether the pupils power Is up to the average
or whether special attention and instruction are
needed.
To carry out his idea Professor Scott has is
sued a circular To those interested In educational
matters in most OF the large cities OF the country.
and in Chicago has arranged with DR.. Night
ingale. Superintendent OF High Schools to OBJ
tain sets OF exercises from all the high schools
OF the city. The collection at present IS drawn
only from the United States but the circular has
been translated In several foreign languages
and France. Germany. Italy, Spain and Russia
will soon be asked to contribute Other coun-
tries will follow later. for Professor Scott hopes
10 secure specimens from every important coun-
try the globe
The plan limits the writing Of exercises in this
country 10 high school pupils and sets six SUBJ
tects for composition. with stated times for writ
ing each. The exercises are to be written In the
schooroom within n period OF one hour. no re-
vision Is !, be allowed and other precautions are
taken to make the series fair test Of the power
Of expression. Only those who entered school
during September 1891. to write. and the
compositions only Of those who complete the
four years course and write all the exercises
will be preserved In this way Professor Scott
believes il possible to secure material for an ex-
act comparison.
| The subjects for this year are such as are cas-
lily within the grasp OF the first year high school
pupil but allow full play to the pupils power OF
| expression-the writing Of n letter to friend.
| giving an account Of something that happened
| during the summer; short story on the lines or
n plot given; q description OF some person known
| to the writer; an explanation OF certain quota
| tons TO a person younger than the writer in such
| terms as can be easily understood. and compo-
sition pcrsuadng boy or girl OF the pupilS own
| age to read book which the pupil has iateiy
| read and liked. .
| 1t is hoped by Professor Scott that consd'
! cradle number Of schools may be found TO cor
| tribute to the collection. The essays are TO IN
sent to Professor Scott. and become the properts
OF the University. where they VIII be open 10 ths
! examina ton Of those intending to teach Ulti-
| mately he believes. they will result In some
| economy OF the expenditure Of time and energy
now going on In the teaching OF rhetoric ana
| compOSitiOn,