Smyrna times., 1901-03-27
MODERN LANGUAGE IN SCHOOL.
Less Latin and a More Thorough Mastery
of Modern Languages Needed.

!
Weinburg, Esq, J. P at the Congress
of the Educational Institute of Scot
land. Jan. %, 1901.
Now with regard to the study of
Modern languages. These are not re-
quiTed in every business; our manu-
facturers here do not seem to need
them. They are however required in
the export trade, in the transaction of
business between the United Kingdom
and foreign countries a knowledge of
German, French and Spanish is an alb
solute necessity. Not only is it re-
quired in merchants business, but
shipbuilcers and engineers find
knowledge of these languages of equal |
importance.
THE learning of French and Span
ish is greatly facilitated if the pupil |
knows a little Latin, which is the |
mother tongue of the southern or Ro-
manesc languages. L am, therefore, in
favor of teaching the rudiments of
Latin, especially Latin grammar. but
1 would not go in far advanced Latin.
1 would employ the time required for
that in thoroughly mastering modern
languages, as they are required for
commercial purposes, that is to say,
thorough knowledge of the gram
mar, commercial correspondence and
conversation.
For this purpose it is not necessary
to study classical, French or German
literature, such as the works of Cor
nellie, Racine, Voltaire and Moliere;
CT in German the works of Schiller,
Goethe, or Jean Paul, or the philOso-
ply of Kant and Illegal &c. All these
form a delightful stuuy if what you
want is to acquire knowledge of for
eign classical literature, but for prac-
tical business purposes it is utterly
useless. [ am sorry to say that there
is not much poetry about business; it
is all hard facts and figures, whether
in English, German, French or Span
ish, and it is on these lines that teach
: ing should be pursued nowadays.
Why is it that so many foreign clerks
are employed in this country? have
J seen it stated that because they are
= cheaper than native clerks; from my
own experience l entirely contradict
this. 1t is not the case [ pay more
to my foreign clerks than to my
9 Scotch clerks and 1 do it because they
u are better educated. They can write
better constructed letter, and they
u spell correctly My chief foreign cor
respondent writes English, German,
French, Spanish and Portuguese and
can take down all these languages in
shorthand.
81 myself was educated in Germany.
1t is a very long time ago. | left
school when was IA years of age, and
" L could then write English, German
French and Spanish, and have never
had private lessons in any of these
languages. merely mention this tC
show you what could be done, even il
these early days by boy who applied
-. himself to his work, and had facult,
- for acquiring foreign languages.
= "If the study of commercial sub
, ject is to obtain the attention which
deserves, the initiative will have t.
come from above-I mean the Board O
Education will have to move in tn
matter, and the headmasters of on
great public schools will have to tax
more interest than hitherto, especial,
: in the teaching of modern languages
'o The standing of professors appointe
/, for this purpose should be improved
- they should be put on a level with th
professors of classics. There is n
reason why degrees should not b
given for the knowledge of moder
languages and other commercial sui
= jects.
81 have no doubt the teachers whol
I have the pleasure of addressing al
all most anxious to have the preseI
- state of things improved. 'The bo
j., is the father of the man." and you al
INC teaching the men of the next gener
ton who are to keep up the CONNIE
cial prestige of this country, on whic
'i"- its greatness depends 1t is a gre
and solemn trust that is confded
'ei- your hands. 1 have no doubt that yc
me- fully recognize it, and at the begi
ming of this new century you will NAL
up great effort to have the system
teaching brought up to date and in
rleS manner worthy of the great reputatic
of this great country.
~ - 1....s.,4nd L th q