New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
PHOTOGRAPHY IN SCHOOLS.
Ex-President Magill Would Have Original
Pitman System Used

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Your educational articles have been Of very
great and living interest but there is one subject
OF great interest If properly understood to which
nave seen aIIuson recently made. refer 70
the teaching Of photography in public schools
do not refer to stenography, shorthand writing
but to photography, the proper representation Of
the sounds of the words 1t is doubtless well known
tnat a system of this latter kind invented by
Isaac Pitman. of England. about sixty years ago
and soon after introduced into this country By the
lectures and books of Andrews and Boyle. I heard
course of lectures by Mr. Boyle. and studied with
care the textbook Of Andrews and Boyle Phonog-
raphers were then very enthusiastic about this
system being capable Of universal application IN
writing
OF the some two hundred attempts to introduce
new alphabet In the last century. this was the
only one which rejected the Old alphabet and
spelled entirely by sound, by letters Of new and
very simple form. OF course. il greatly shortened
the words, but its chief value was expected TO be
by no means the reporting of public addresses. It
was felt that it a system be studied and
practised by all. thus saving immense amount Of
time, both in the acquisition and in the daily prac
uce OF writing OF course reporters could use it TO
very great advantage. and their notes If phonog
raphy were generally taught could be read By the
typesetter without reproduction in cumber-
some long hand
few years later a suggestion made by
Isaac Pitman that. for certain theoretical reasons
a
scale. involving. By the rules Of the system. very
great changes. Many Of US felt that life was
short TO learn two systems Of shorthand writing,
and we preferred giving it up rather than make the
attempt. But my hold on the beautiful and simple
system, as first learned, was so well fixed by my
practice for the few early years that have now
continued the practice for nearly half a century
few years after Isaac Pitman had suggested
the serious changes in the vowel scale he changed
his mind and desired to return TO the system as at
first put forth But his sons who were in the bust
ness with their father having invested consid-
eraI in books printed in the changed form,
refused to restore the original form. and thus have
their books thrown out Of the market But the
father Gor the good Of the syster) urged the
change to he original form. But ne could not sat
sfy his sons. and died soon after deeply discOur-
aged Their uncle. q younger brother Of Isaac
P1tn11n. had introduced the simple and beautiful
system at first put out in this country, to the
gEGdt pleasure OF US all and he still continues 20
PubLsh books. papers and magazines in this form.
nographio Institute. Cincinnati. Ohio.
Al different times number Of others IN
own which they have published. thus connecting
their names with the system. and this has done
from coming into general use But the teachers
followed the original and beautiful system Of Isaac
Ptrrnan. now published by Benn Pituan and his
able and asstduous coworker, Mr.. Howard.
They have recently published two books OF very
great value. The AInanuensis'' and The Promo
giving a complete course for self-instruction IN
the DeauLlLui ana the latter presenting, IN
neatly printed volume Of 542 pages, every word of
the English language which is not obsolete. archaic
or very rare, well words from foreign Ian
guages in frequent use, and "A Phrase List OF
several thousand useful English and foreign
phrases It is truly monument OF the most ad-
must DO highly appreciated by the monographs
teachers and students OF land. The authors
have very properly called the system, the result
of long thought and great labor Of the great orig
tnator, and to which he earnestly desired to
return at the close Of his long and useful life The
American System"
That they may very properly call it by this
name is obvious from this statement Of William
T. Harris, Commissioner OF Education: There
is question whatever of the truth Of the state
orally used than any other in this country. AT
least this would appear from the reports made to
this bureau Of the various institutions teaching
shorthand 1t may be called The American Sys-
tenn q"
Now am informed tina: the Board OF Educa-
ton OF this city has adopted the Pitnan phOnOg-
raphy, and agreed to try it for a period Of five
years in city schools I further informed
that the photography thus introduced is not the
American. but the English system. with its In
verted vowel scale. and which the great inventor
so much regretted to have introduced, and desired
so earnestly to have changed back to its simple
original form before his death. If children
thus experimental upon for the next five years it
Introduction of this beautiful system of writ
ing which would the coming generations much
useless and painful labor. Would II not yet be
possible the Board of Education to modify their
which is adopted in the Philadelphia schools and
far more generally taught than any other by the
teachers Of photography throughout the country? ?
EDWARD H MAGILL,
Ex-President Of SwarthTuore College
New-York. Sept. 8. 1905.