The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-25

Walter L. Ranger, state superintenG-
ent OF schools. is emphatic i'm his disap-
proNal ana does not sympathize with the
method used by President Roosevelt In
putting IL before the public
In an Interview with representative
OF the News Democrat this morning, he
said that all reforms of such broad
nature should and must come about
gradually. and that any attempt such as
Is planned must cfT result I'm confu-
sion.
"Il the first place" he said. mot all
OF the various communities that make UP
this country Will take kindly To the new
spelling at once, and those few that Go
Will cause confusion, since any superin-
tendent who advocated IL this year might
not be I'm position. TO do so another year:
and the man who followed him. il he
opposed the method, after the children
had been taught II. might see 1T TO
change II. You can readily see what
confusion would be the result.
"All such reforms should be approved
by a few Of the prominent educational
societies OF the country first. and thcn
be made popular by way OF the diction-
aries. which would be gradual method.
Al first the dictionaries could print both
spelllngs OF word; and each individual:
could take his choice and not be classed
as ignorant. II then the new form was
approved. the older one would by de-
grees become obsolete and die.
''For the present. those who have been
educated to the older method of spelling
will take TO the new one with poor grace,
IL they pay any attention TO II at all.
''While in sympathy with the refornIa-
tion of spelling ! would have taken some
public than that which is being advo:
Gated by Andrew Carnegie and approved
by President Roosevelt"
Mr.. Haney, principal OF the Rhode ISL
and Commercial school. who Is considered
an excellent authority on spelling,
thought that the change advocated by the
president Is altogether too radical.
''The elimination OF unnecessary let
ters," he said. strikes me as most
economical and OF great assistance to
stenographers and typists. However,
must be guided by public approval. II
this phonetic spelling meets with the
sanction Of the public l Will teach 1t In
my school. but not until then. Teachers
can't we'll set the standard. The people
make the fashion, and we cater 10 what
they demand"
President w. H. p Faunce Of Brown
I'm favor OF gradual change
in spelling of certain words. but opposed
TO anything like n revolution In spelling
"Of course" he said mo one expects
to Introduce a complete phonetic spelling
of English words as they are pronounced.
We should have TO obtain identity of pro
nounciation. AS long as words are pro-
nounced in various ways they will be
gnelln0 ne ineN arc II w Fbuiu tbNhtAt
n universal pronunciation Of all words,
then the phonetic system would be prac-
ticable.
Il suppose what Is meant by phonetic
smelling In this case Is the simplihed
spelling OF certain words recommended
by Prof Brander Matthews and his as
associates.
"The National Educational association
has for years used certain simplihed
forms. such as thru and tho Probably
many OF us spell program and frequently
'catalog' Such gradual changes are the
sim that our language Is not fossilized'
but Is a living organism rejecting the
life OF which Il Is the expression
"On the other hand. spelling reform
should be distinguished from spelling
revolution. do not believe II possible
or desirable by an act Of government TO
change the orthography OF the English
language The result Of centuries OF
growth cannot be annihilated by act OF
congress or 10y any organization, large or
small.
Nothing would be gained by teaching
the children wholly new system OF
spelling. Every scholar knows that our
English spelling Is vastly more than an
attempt TO initiate current pronunciation.
II is I'm itself long unfolding OF re
markably interesting history. Phonetic
spelling. n II could conceivably be nitro
duced. would annihilate our language as
literary vehicle
"simplIned spelling OF certain words
we welcome: but for revolutionary meas
ures there Is neither demand nor neces-
sity. would deprecate the introduc-
don Of phonetic spelling in our public
schools"
Max Magnus. director OF the Max Mag
nus shorthand school. is most enthusiast