The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-05-17


entire school career, in and out of
school, can serious attention to its de-
tails result IN correct speaking and
writing. Every teacher must share
the responsibility Of helping the pupil
to form habits Of correct speaking and
writing, Correct usage IN English
courses does not automatically spread
over into other courses. 1t spreads
oniy by being directed all along the
Ii -.
Dr.. Enedlen says: we d. not, to-
day, know why, in any definite wa
We attach such Importance in the high
schools to the studies of Algebra, Latin,
Ancient History and various other sub
jects. About ali we can prove is that
at some time in the past these studies
were Of acttal value; that more recent
ly gaoups of people became convinced,
whether reasonably or not, that they
possess value for some educational pur-
poses. Latln was once valuable tool
of general learning. Today it can no
longer be defended as such, but its adj
yocates insist that it is an instrument
of mental discipline. -
In all high schools we teach English
composition, and there is less dispute,
today, as to the value of this study
than of any other in the secondary
school curriculum.
Again quoting from DR.. Snedden, he
divides formal English into five parts:
o. the technique of effectively listen
ing to, or hearing English as spoken or
read; (2) silent reading; 90 oral read
ing; a. oral communication; (5writ-
/ ten expression which heretofore has
mad the lions share of attention. One
must have certain aims in each line of
formal English and accommodate
teaching Of these goals.
As for composition, it is assumed that
theme work in English will develop
style and huency in writing at large;
but style is specific; it conforms to the
character of nature of the theme being
developed. The essay is valuable for
the future essayist, not for the BUSH
ness man and probably not even for the
professional man. A carefully written
essay does not mean that the pupil will
learn thereby to speak more easily and
correctly. The two mental processes
are quite different and must be de-
/ veloped in their respective fields.
Many today say the criticism of themes,
even when competent, is, in the ma.
jority of cases, of little value. THE
tragedy of red ink is an unwise means
of developing style or skill. If the
class is small, each composition should
be read to the class, and the corrections
made; in this way each pupil hears
about his own particular errors or
merits, also those of the other mem
bers of the class.
In very real sense the secondar.
school represents the sole opportunjs
for systematic general education, I
yond the elementary school, for at
least forty or fifty per cent. of the
population.
One of the Universities asked body
of business men what they considered
the most important part of a college
course, the reply was: "You cannot
emphasize too strongly the advantages
that comes to man from the ability to
think on his feet, and to express clears
ly a well-thought-ouf proposition.
Oral composition is of much more
practical yaue than written; most
people speak more than they write, and
many of them succeed or fail largely
because of skill or defects in CONVEX
sation.
The essentials of oral composition
! are knowledge of the subject; and
practice in telling; under the latter,
one must include voice, enunciation,
pronunciation, diction and position.
Frequent drills may be necessary, but
we should keep in mind what was &C.
complshed by Henry Ward Beecher
with his enlarged tonsils and small
throat; and by Demosthenes with his
weak chest and impeachment in speech.
The pupil when he first attempts to
speak before his classmates, finds that
he is not master of himself, but practice
will enable him to overcome that diff
fidence ard awkwardness.
Our aim should be to make valuable
citizens. The mere talker, it is true, is
held in contempt, but the man or the
woman who can both act and influence
Others to action will be justly counted a
most worthy citizen. Every group of
people must have leader. The person
who can think only when he writes will
be of little use IN crisis.
Stout says: The place that English
now holds has been gained in little more
than half century, and its present
prominent position dates back less than
twenty-five years"