The Delta independent., 1917-12-07

but it is far from being dead" lang
uage. 1t is the foundation of three of
our great modern languages-French
Italian and Spanish-and one with a
thorough knowledge of Latin can eas
lily learn any or all of these other
much-used languages.
Usually, at least. one or two years
of Latin is required of anyone before
studying any of these languages. With
the Romance languages again high in
favor, Latin is becoming more popular.
Four years of Latin are offered in the
Delta High School and considerable
stress is laid on the correlation of
Latin root forms to modern language
words, especially in our own English
language, the great per cent of which
comes from the Latin through the
Norman French. Another phase en-
phasized in the translation is choosing
the right word for the right place from
a list of words with only a shade of
difference in their meanings.
This tends to enlarge the pupils
English vocabulary.
German.
The study of German brings to the
pupil directly some of the worlds
greatest masterpieces in their original
form and tends thus to enlarge his
appreciation of good literature. In
the second year in the High School.
such classics are put before the pupii
for study and translation. Oral Ger
man is also used to a great extent by
means of questions and answers con-
cerning the material in hand and thug
the practical phase is emphasized and
through this a better understanding
of English grammar is brought abous
German is used orally. too. in conver-
sations, memorizing and singing
songs, using special vocabularies
about things in everyday life.
The aim, then. is two-fold, an abil
ity to read and speak the German lang
uage.
Spanish
ht AdpAI htNtibHAAAtAAA anu AAoN
of Spanish-speaking countries in com
mercial and political lines, have caus-
ed the Spanish language to be given
a high educational value in American
schools.
Our increasing relations with South
America and Mexico make a know.
ledge of Spanish imperative to bust
ness and professional men who wish
to enlarge their fields in this direc
ton.
In California, New Mexico, Texas.
Arizona. and even parts of Colorado.
a person unfamiliar with Spanish is
often at a real disadvantage.
Beginning Spanish is offered in the
Delta high school with a view to ex-
tending the course each year that the
class advances. The work consists Of
vocabulary, pronunciation. founda-
tions of grammar and the general ex.
ercises incident to any beginning Ian
guage. Conversation is not stressed
until the pupil has a good reading
knowledge and an understanding Of
the grammar. This comes in the sec.
ond year of work. The Castilian pro-
nunciation is employed at first, the
South American dialect pronunciation
being easily derived from this.
History
z. II. Homberger. American His
tory: Hazel Musser. Ancient and Mod.
ern History.
The aim of the present day teacher
is to make history mot a burdening
of the memory. but an illumination ri
the soul" 1t Is his aim not to har-
ass the student with long lists Of
dates and cumbersome outlines which
are but the skeleton of history, but
rather to give into his possession the
priceless story of the development 81
man-his own story-which is the es-
sence and spirit of history. The facts
of history, ancient and modern, must
be connected up with the personal ex
perience of the child. and thus made
vital factor behind his thoughts am
actions This is done through the