The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-02-25
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TEACHING THE CHILD TO READ .
Paper Read By Miss Sudie May Boulware at the
Meeting of heNewberry County Teachers y
Association February 19, 1910. =
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To an audience of teachers there
IS no use to enumerate the benefits
derived from the ability to read well.
They have found that a pupil who
cannot read cannot master any other
branch.
There are some teachers who feel
that little time should be put on read
ing, and most pupils are Of that
opinion, too. Fortunately for the
child, the fancy fad Of reading with
out knowing the letters, or anything
about their sounds, has about finished
its course. A child should not be
taught to read what he cannot spell.
He should feel that he has reached
the top of the ladder by rclimblng,
and not that he has been placed
there. No doubt, much time was lost
in the old log sehoolhouse spelling
through the blue-baek speler, pro-
nouneing son the book" before be-
ginning to read. The old time pupil
had to learn his a, b, c's, and though
he did not know he was learning
phonics he knew. his "Rey" to the
spelling book. The ethical lessons
he got from his readers and spoilers
helped to form that sturdy character
which we in our pessimistic moments
fear is passing from us as a nation.
An old "New England Primer' con-
tanned such advice as this:
''He that ne'er learns his A, B, c,
Forever viii a. blockhead be;
But<he that learns the letters fair
Shall have a coach to take the air. "
IA definite purpose is one Of the
requisites of every ideal lesson.
From the very first the child should
learn to read, not read to learn a
formidable array Of scanty facts
which he will encounter later on in
his development, when he will be
more prepared to assimilate them.
Without his knowledge the vast
storehouse Of learning which is our
heritage from countless ages, will
ever remain securely locked. If the
golden key Of good reading can be
placed in the hands of the rising
generation they will be able to ex-
plore the many vaulted chambers
without any other guide. One great
fault in our present system Of edu-
cation lies the fact that I'M the mad
rush of trying to acquire all knoWl-
edge, the only true means to that
end-that Of reading-has been neg
leeted.
- The selection Of the textbook used
is, Of course very important FAC
tor in teaching the child to read.
While the unusual teacher can teach
from any kind Of textbook, and the
UNUSUAL CU1lu Cdu w 4CetO AAOA1@
the billboard he sees along the way,
we must provide for the needs Of
the majority, who without the help
gained from such source have IN
deed the task Of making brick with
ont straw, and as the Israehtes in
Egypt had the :'tale' Of bricks
doubled, even 50 the teacher and pu-
pil find the burden surprisingly great.
It would seem that our modern
methods Of teaching reading have
lost sight Of the ideal which should
be held up to the child. In the e,f-
fort to smooth the way fok the little
feet the poor little wayfarer has
been completely lost in the way. At
the very outset of his journey he is
forced to meet and combat single
handed such giants as 'caterpillar,"
"goldenrod,' or "sunfower," and
many others equally formidable. The
gallant little soldier has no weapon