Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1910-08-20
Theory and Art Of Reading.
(COHa,nunicdted.)


teachers of our schools, know how much
stress" is laid by Hon. T. H. Harris, onr
present State Superintendent of public
education, on the Theory and Art and
Teaching
Does it mean that the teachers should
be found competent" to teach all the
branches designated in our school cur
riculum? No one will deny that it should:
Then why is the 3main source that is
the Theory and Art of Reading SO sad
ly neglected? The cause must certainly
be sincompetency, or lack OF interest on
the part of the teacher. Is not reading
the aleading channel to the accomplish
ment of the other branches taught?
Some one on being asked the reason why
a certain boy was SO backward in arith-
metic. truthfully replied: at is his Eng
lish" rather than his Arithmetic which is
at fault Teach the child to grasp the
thought" of the printed page, and half
the battle is won. The teacher who does
not neglect the sArt of Reading will
find his scholars, in the course of time,
better spoilers, better grammarians, and
better arithmeticians, ete., etc.
Reading is an essential to most school
work, and to teach a child to sread' is
one of the first duties OF the progressive
teacher" The two essentials OF reading
should be-
10 To read intelligently.
20 To read intelligibly.
The purpose Of teaching child to read
should be-
10 To ennable him to::sgain' informa-
ton.
20 To ennable him to aimpart' intor-
nation.
80 To gain pleasure from reading.
These purposes should be constantly
kept in view by the teachers of our
schools, for to me, it is the main sskele-
ton," or sframe work" from which all 9th.
er studies find their real source or
sorigin.'
A great educator, after years of study
on the subject, has, in my estimation,
found ont the skey' to that beautiful
cart" He says:-3The business of train
ing youth in elocution, must be com
menced in childhood. The school should
be the nursery. There. at least, may be
formed distant articulation. which is
the first requisite for good speaking.
How rarely is it found in perfection
among our orators! sWords.' referring
to articulation, should be delivered out
from the lips, as beautiful coins. newly
issued from the mint; deeply and accu.
rately impressed, perfectly finished;
neatly struck by the proper organs, dis
tinct, in due succession, and OF due
weight. How rarely do we hear speak
or whose tongue, teeth and lips, do their
Office SO perfectly as to answer to this
beautiful description! In school for chill
dren. it ought to be a 4leading object
to teach the sArt of Reading It ought
to occupy threefold more time than it
does. The teachers Of these schools
should feel that TO them. Tor time, are
committed the future orators of the land!
1t is better that q girl should return
from school first-rate reader. than
first-rate performer on the piano forte.
The accomplishment, in it's perfection,
would give more pleasure. The voice OF
song is not sweeter than the voice OF elo
queDce; and there may he eloquent aread-
ers' as well as eloquent Speakers. Let
the same pains be devoted to reading, as
are required to torn an accomplished
performer on an instrument; let us have.
as the ancients had, the formers OF the
voice; let US see years devoted to this
ond than wn ahof1id he