West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-02-18
Punctuation.
Sugar Valley, Feb. IS.

0u<dA NdIACyS Ecu. AS'
Editor Oil Review:-Will you
kindly permit me space In the col
umns Of your valuable paper for
few remarks upon the. subject
heading this article, thinking 1t
worthy of Our consideration and
the public In general.
Perhaps there never was a time In
the history of this progressive ma
ton when such achievements were
made for the elevation of our peo
pie, Intellectually, than at the pres
ent time, and I am truly glad that
I live In this enlightened age.
In our public schools, with the
proper effort on our part, we can be
equipped for various and beneficial
vocations. While this Is true, yet
there Is one thought impressed up
on my mind, which brings me to
the subject.
Why Is not punctuation as thor
-oughly taught In our public
schools as any other branch of edu-
cation? Is 1t because our school
teachers do not give 1t any thought,
or Is 1t because they do not fully
understand Its principles? Perhaps
the latter part of the above SEN
tence has something to do with 1t:
Indeed, I think a large per cent of
our school teachers are lacking
In this particular. I claim, and
without successful contradiction,
that punctuation Is one of
the practical parts of education, and
should be deemed as such by our
educators. I venture the assertion
that a large per cent. of those who
stand high In education, are al
most without any practical knowl-
edge of the subject In question.
Why Is 1t thus' Simply because
they never gave 1t any thought, nor
were they given practical knowl-
edge of 1t by their instructors. Any
pupil who has finished a common
school education should thoroughly
understand how to punctuate, or,
in other words, point off," Show
me one In this class that can, and l
will show you twenty that can not.
Now, Mr., Editor, you are In pc.
sition to judge the correctness of
this statement, and I am willing to
leave 1t In your hands for de-
cision.
Being very much interested on
the subject In question, and while
In conversation with a school teach
er. I asked him Why 1t was that
punctuation was not taught In the
public schools. He bowed his head,
paused a moment, and looking up
with smile, said: II think punct.
uation, to a certain extent, Is
taught In public schools-grammar
gives light on that subject, if care
fully studied" This Is the first
time ever heard school teacher
utter the word punctuation"
either In or out of the school
room, and if his theory Is correct
on this point, there are certainly
very few gramarians In the light on
this subject.
The knowledge I have of this art
(and / am truly thankful that an
not in total darkness as to It's char
acteristics) was not gained in the
school room, through the instruc-
ton of an educator, but all by my
lonesome" so to speak, l deter
mined to, at least, acquire part of
its usefulness. 1t was rather a i
gloomy task at the start, but then
the happy thought came to me. that
to gain knowledge you must have a
struggle, and I worked earnestly
on this line until light on the sub
ject was presented to me. and /
grasped the idea, and held fast to 1t.
Step by step advanced. with a tull
determination to press forward un-
til acquired the desired knowledge
for which / was seeking. The
struggle Is over, the victory won,
and | have nothing to regret.