The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-11

y The favorable action this winter and
organizations and the rapidity with which
the list of words whose spelling has been
simplified is being adopted amply justi-
fes the action of the National Educational
association which officially promulgated
the list about five years ago. .. 80.
Spelling reform has had a long. and in
teresting history and the suggestions Of
pathological associations and the feeling
Of revolt against the unnecessary Difficult
ties of written English have been ac-
complishing some changes by almost i'm
perceptible degrees for several decades,
but the movement in the N. E. A. was
the first influential and systematic at
tempt to aid this natural pruning process.
The sponsor of spelling reform in the
N. E. A. and its consistent advocate for
nearly forty years is e. 0. Vaile Of Oak
Park, ILL.,, editor of Intelligence, an edu-
cational publication. For over twenty
years Mr.. Vaile has used in his paper
the list, whose Endorsement by the N. E.
A. he secured. He first brought the mat
ter officially before the N. E. A. in 1897,
and in 1899 the associat ation voted to adopt
in Its publications such simp1ifed spell
ings as might be agreed upon by DR..
w. r. Harris, commissioner Of education;
Superintendent Louis Soldan of st. Louis,
and Superintendent Thomas M. Ballet
of Springfield, Mass. The list adopted
was one that had been evolved by Mr..
Vale and tested in his paper as being
likely to cause the least objection.
The association was by no means unani
nous in regard to the feasibility and wis
dom of the adoption of a simplified spell
ing and was still less sure that it was it's
duty to- take the initiative. but those
who believed in the reform argued that
no one was more concerned in the matter
than educators who were In a position
to know best the difficulties encountered
in dealing with English spelling and that
it was highly important for some inter-
ested and competent body to take some
ment:0 - -.
How the Movement, Started. III.
The list of twelve words was adopted
as an entering wedge to test public SEN
timent and this was done with as little
flourish Of trumpets as possible, in order
that no antagonism might be created to
cause reaction. The plan to insert the
words chosen into the publications sur
reptftiously did not succeed and in the
opinion of several influential friends Of
the reform there was a reaction during
the first two years the list was in use, but
this has been tided over apparently and
there are indications in many quarters of
a real demand for further simplifying.
The Illinois Association Acts.
Soon after the adoption of the cele-
brated list of twelve words by the N. E..
A., DR.. Benjamin Andrews, then super
intendent of schools in Chicago, began a
spelling reform crusade based upon the
list, and this attracted much attention
| +o off 70 1>1a fo,
linguistic growth for the recent action
of Chicago Principals association is the
echo Of the resolutions adopted at ths
holiday meeting of the Illinois State
Teachers association These resolution.
not only indorsed the N. E. A. list anG
required the officers to use 1t unless
otherwise ordered" but it requested tina
school and college authorities allow ant
themselves use these speHings in thei
| catalogs, reports and other printed mat
ter.
| The Illinois association did not stol
4 with the entering wedge furnished b.
/ the N. E.. A. list, but called upon tn,
American Pathological association and tn
Modern Language Association Of Americ,
/ to find. some practical way Of introduc
ing the simplified spelling recommends,
by them into textbooks and into the liter
ature OF schools and homes. The spell
ling resolutions conclude with the follow
! Ing radical clause:
We also petition these two societies Of expert
4 to tske further action to secure the adOptiO
4 among our etymologists and photographers of
universal system of key notation for indicatin
4 pronuncfation-a system which shall have for II
a basis simple, thoroughly practical alphabe
adapted to common. everyday use. such as til
alphabet Of the American Pathological Associatio
81 seems to MS to be. :
i Some idea Of the extent of the innova
tion desired by the Teachers associate
may be had from the fact that the Philc
i logical association has arranged q list
several Thousand so-caIled ..reforme
words = including nearly all the wore
most frequently used.
The reformed spelling was presented I
the Illinois association by DR.. Vale, b,
he also was ably supported by Professe
J.. Fl. Collins, superintendent Of th
u Springfield schools who in al compreher
] sive paper argued that the irration,
spelling Of the English language exerte