The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1902-04-12
How May We MAKE the study Of Ena-
llsh More Practical,


convention OF the Boone Co. Teach
ers' Association at Harrison where
the above knotty problem was pre-
sented for discussion and possible
solution.
The proper solution OF this prob
lem is of much greater Importance
to us than it looks to be, to the SUI
perhcial thinker or casual observer.
1t is subject that has grappled,
very successfully, with the pedagoci-
cal intellect OF the English Speaking
world since the language itself first
began to emerge and evolve from a
eonelomeration of Saxon, Angelic,
Celtic, Latin and Latin French ele-
ments into the distinct and unihed
tongue OF great nation of people
and its colonial branches.
The very facts OF it's being a pro-
duct from so many and such differ.
ent sources renders it peculiarly diff
cult successfully to master.
Indeed, thoroughly to understand
and teach it properly, one should be
somewhat acquainted, at least, with
the principal sources from which it
sprang. But as this, under our pres
emit system of Public School educa-
ton, is practically, an impossibility,
it behooves us to look around. earn
estly and diligently, for other means
to help us in the undertaking.
Following is the writer's ideal
plan Che wishes to state. parenthet-
tally, for the encouragement of young
er teach ers that, as yet, he has new
er been able to put it into successful
operation): Educate, thoroughly,
the mothers of the generation to
come, and our successors in the
teaching fraternity will meet with
fewer obstacles than have blocked
our progress i'll the school-room OF
today.
The practical teaching OF the Eng
lish or of any other language for
that matter should begin not far
from the cradle. Correct speech
should commence with the simple
Nov l lay me down to sleep and
should be made continuous under
the anxious care and patient train
ing OF properly educated mother
Tor kindertner if you please until the
child arrives at school age. This,
faithfully done, gives the little fell
lows quite an advantage when he
takes his place among his fellows in
school.
AT the threshold of this great pal
ladium of constitutional liberty, the
Public School, the faithful mother is
met bv the competent and equally
devoted kindergarten or primary
teacher who, after learning the char
acter disposition, and peculiar trails
OF the embryonic statesman or poe
tess, assumes part of the parents
burdens and responsibilities. And
as the mother labor, in all her deal
ings with the little one, to make
correct speech a fixed and invarable
habit-never for a moment, permit
ting herself to lose sight of the aw-
tul truth that she is training an i'm
mortal mind for a fit place in the fu-
ture councils OF a great nation-an
imperishable entity that must quick
en- and pulsate under the approving
smiles of it's Maker or cover at His
frown throughout an eternity of
ages!
/ In the humble judgment of the
writer. the study OF technical english
grammer from a textbook should
not begin until the pupil is able to
read well, and the faculties of his
mind are sufficiently developed to en-
able him. with little effort, to grasp
what he reads. This important
matter faithfully attended to, the
task of Making the study OF Eng-
lish more practical" would, indeed,
be pleasant one!
But the foregoing is only the writ
er's ideal plan-which, as be has al
ready stated, he has never been able
fully to execute. 1t belongs, proper
ly land may be in force there today
to Scont's Ideal Republic" located
in the enchanting land of Nowhere!
Then for a solution OF this most
perplexing problem, whose profun-
dity, as we attempt it seems almost
uniathomable to human ken, let us
turn to the public school of today,
and boldly face the lamentable con.
ditions which often shock us by their
presence there. We find pupils in
there-all the way from fifteen to
twenty one years Of age whose hab-