New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-02
SHORTHAND IN SCHOOLS
History of the Adoption Of The
Isaac PitmaR System

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Nv attention has been called to article
in recent issue Of The Tribune entitled "Phonos-
raphy In Schools and. the representative and
publisher Of the authorized textbooks Of the Isaac
Pitman system of shorthand. beg the favor OF A
little space in your columns 70 refute ana SET
straight certain statements contained in the above
article which are likely TO mislead those who are
unacquainted with the inside history OF shorthand
I'm this country.
Your correspondent correctly draws attention 10
the fact that time after the invention OF Pho
biography Isaac Pitman Cafterward knighted for
his great services shorthand for certain tneoret
ical reasons nversed a part OF the vowel scale.
and he further states that a few years after~ard
Mr.. Pitman changed his mind and desired 70 return
to the vowel system first put forth, but was
prevented from doing by the influence OF MS
sons I wish in the most emphatic manner posslo,e
TO contradict this assertion and add that there Is
positively no foundation whatever for such STATE
ment The merits Of the new vowel scale INTRO
duced by Isaac Pitman were Immediately recos-
nized as vast improvement. and several American
adapters of the Isaac Pitman system. realizing the
superiority Of the change. at once incorporated u
into their textbooks. and among these may ne men
toned James z. Munson. Elias Ionsley. Mrs Eliza
Bordman Burnz and others.
In regard TO your correspondents reference 20 the
Benn Pitman system having the right 70 be called
the American system it IS interesting To note
the remarks Of DR.. William T Harris. Cniteo
States Commissioner of Education. on this point
in part:
with the statement that the Benn Pitman system
is the American system havlng nXseI oeSh SIS Iys
TENS and ha ting learned first the system Of isaac
R B9Te from on NE 6seTfng that
work of Isaac Pttman in the first invention M sun
sequent improvement OF it. had entitled INN 10 a
place solitary and alone in the invention Il OF Paon0g
HBeTican phonogr gre has improved Isaac Pit
mans phonography to any eAt .9 sRarfcs IS
tenn"
Your correspondent calls attention ~ the fact
that tho Network Board Of Education has adopt
ed the Isaac Pftman photography. and that he Is
further informed that it is not the American out
the English system that has been selected. Here
again he is misinformed as the Isaac Pitnan
"shorthand Instructor the official textbook adopt
ed by the Board of Education. is from cover 70
cover an American production. being printed In
this city and copyright duly entered at Washing I
Pitman system as having been adopted by the
fact as being an experiment and detrimental to
the interests of the school system little care
wou5 nave revealed the fact that the Isaac Pit
system has been taught in the schools OF ms
ve-year adoption is only continuation OF the con-
1t is now matter of history mat in 1894 the
question of teaching shorthand in the grammar
the selection Of the system was left 10 member of
the Board Of Education an expert pnonogEaPPG
of thirty years standing and aiter conslQeTaI .e
investigation and study of the different TEXTBOOKS
connection it is especially interesting to note that
the person conducting the Investigation was him
self a writer of the original Pitman system con
tanning the old vowel scale and this fact alone IS
sufficient that the present revised ana i'm
proved Isaac Pitrnan system was adopted solely
on its merits Aside from the teaching of the Isaa
Pitman system in the schools OF New-York City. it
is interesting note that % per cent Of the
business schools and colleges are also teaching
this method.
Looking at the subject from standpoint Of
shorthand literature. the Isaac Pitman system can
claim large library Of books ranging from the
complete Bible in shorthand TO Robinson Crusoe.'
The Vicar of Wakefield, etc In fact, II has
more Shorthand literature than all the other sys-
TENS combined In this library will be found text
hooks ADAPTING the system to ten different Ian
guages. The great value OF a shorthand literature
10 the student cannot be overestimated-
Apologizi7- for the length Of this communication
am very ''1'' CLARENCE A. PITIAN.
New-York. Sept 2s 1898