The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-09-18
REFORM
DOESN'T SUIT HIM
Commissioner of Education Thinks
It Will Result in Real Loss to
the Language.

the Language.
Columbus, o., Sept. 16.-E. A. Jones
of Stark county, state commissioner
of education, is not very enthusiastic
on the subject of the reformed spell,
ing, which President Roosevelt has
adopted SO heartily. Mr.. Jones re-
turned Thursday after an extensive
trip through the state.
"Some time ago." said he. Il was
urged to adopt few of the new spell
ings in use for my own department
here; but without reference to my OWL
inclinations, it was impossible to dc
so. The printing of our department
is, of course, done in the same place
as that of the other state departments,
and it would be difficult for the print
ers to set up our copy one way and
that of the other departments another
SHOULD SHOW DERIVATION.
Discussing the spelling reform In
general, Mr.. Jones said his leading
objection to 1t Is an genealogical
grounds. Those words, for instance,
which are derived from the Latin he
would like to see spelled in such a
way as to show their derivation; but
this, of course, would be impossible,
If the phonetic method should be car
particular the words "emigrate and i'm
migrate" The last has the two ms
because the Latin prefix, 'in" was
given the word, while in the emigrate,
the prefix is "ex" or its shorter form
"e." If these two words should be
spelled phone1cally, only one IN"
would be allowed 'immigrate;" for
the extra m makes no difference in
the pronunciation of the word. How
lever, the history of the word would be
lost, so far as its appearance goes.
Mr. Jones cited other Latin words
whose spelling shows their derivation
and where change would seem to re-
suit in certain loss of meaning.
A FEW WORDS IMPROVED.
81 have examined their entire list
with care since l returned" said he
"but there are few words which are
improved by change in spelling. The
spelling of program has, of course
been universally adopted in place OF
the programme. The word dullness
is perhaps better spelled, with one T.
Some time ago the National Educa-
tion association adopted list OF
twelve words, l think, and the New
York Independent and some others
also adopted them. They were such
words as tho, altho, thru, thoro, ETC.
But could never see my way clear to
use them. They don't look very well,
to my mind.
"As to the adoption of the phonetic
spelling in the schools, it would
mean radical change. All the liter
ature that is printed in the old spell
ing would puzzle the children who
were taught to spell by the new
method
CHANGE SHOULD BE SLOW.
'If the new spelling comes in. Il
will be by degrees. A language is
formed by slow growth. 1t seems tc
me that effort to force the reform
might result in general carelessnesI
in spelling"
The substitution of 1T" in the plac,
Of led" in the past lenses of certain
verbs was also mentioned by MI
Jones, the word mist, which is sub
stituted for missed, being cited as
case where actual confusion would re
suit from the new form. But MI
Jones commented faVorably on tn
distinguished character of the spell
ing reform board members, most O
whom, he said, are noted as student
of etymology.
MANY INSTITUTES HELD.
During the summer, Mr.. Jones ha
attended thirty-four teachers ensti
tutes in different parts of the state
They were all remarkably well at
tended. In none of them was tn
new spelling discussed, to his know
edge.
J There has been change in tn
character Of institute work in recer
years." he said. "The programs no.
are occupied mostly with methods. !
is inspirational, instead OF informs
tionaL Nature work is one of tn
popular subjects, and especially tn