The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-30

S"eFs 10 many OF the FOREGOING o,ias-
lions would be to test the Latin work
OF no fewer than 100 pupils in yariops
schools of our State. Others Thought
mat, Tor the present, the opinion of a
number of Virginia Latin teachers
Wo"io serve our purpose better Hence
upon motion of Mr.. Davis, a commit
zee was appointed to prepare a cues
tiohnaire to be mailed to the difterent
Ia''h teachers of the State. in order
- ascertain what is their judgment as
10 the proportion and place Of Latin
grammar in the schools This commit
Zee consisting of Mr.. Davis and Miss
VICE with Miss Otis. OF Chatham, is
10 weigh the opinions thus collected
ana 10 suggest to the association plan
of procedure.
On Wednesday evening the subject
ior discussion was modern lanruares-
,neir place In colleges and schools.
Win View to speaking them and OBJ
.aihihG real access to their literature
MISS Estelle Smithey. of Farmville
orietiy reviewed the history of mod
ern language teaching within recent
years. noting the decided change In
methods and attitude. She called at
tehtion 10 the emphasis now laid upon
oral ana aural training, citing the no
sitlon taken by the Modern Language
Association of New England and by
Germany, where written examinations
IN modern tongues are now discarded
IN the gymnasium course by Official
orders. Miss Smithey believes that.
from the first. all directions should be
given in the language which is to be
taught. and that every effort should be
! used to win the class to a Willingness
to get the thought through the foreign
language instead of through English
Some members OF the association
maintained. on the other hand, that we
cannot escape drudgery. and that
precious time may be wasted in
searching for royal road"-time
that might he employed in opening up
TO the pupils the literary treasures OF
the language. a sparkling impromptu
debate ensucd, but when Miss Smithey
brought out specimens of the original
composition work of her pupils In
French and German there was no gain
saying such evidence.
Miss Christine Burns. of Randolph
Macon Institute. Danviile, in delight
| lul informal talk. made a strong plea
| for history. She thought that more
time should he given to a subject that
includes al we know of all that man
mas ever thought, done, or hoped. She
! claimed that history does not receive
S"ihCieHt cFtO!t IN points Tor col
| lese entrance: hence 1t is often
dropped to make place for studies that
! count more units"
Miss Burns's talk was full Of humor,
! as Well as OF practical suggestion. and
| met hearty response. The valua BILE
! discussion which followed. in which
! Miss Martha Riddle. Of Mary Baldwin,
! took a leading part. was OF very
practical nature. Mrs L. May wills.
! OF Chatham Episcopal Institute, urged
that II Is very unfortunate that in this
| particular subject we do not follow
| some uniform course in our secondary
schools, rs the VARYING order in which
! the branches OF history are taken up in
3 different institutions often throws a
/ pupil seriously out when she changes
schools Others. too. urged that the
association should take some steps to-
wards sNstematizing this matter.
1 therefore committee was appointed
TO look into the subject and to suG-
Gest at the next annual meeting a
POSSIBLE uniform plan DR.. ]. w.
Wayland. OF the Harrisonburg State