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

Il is generally believed among school
people that no other subject n the high
school presents so many serious Prob
lens a. does Engii.h. The efficiency
of higher eGucati III ia tested very large
ly by the graduates ability 20 spell.
to write letter, and to converse or
speak in public with ease Dr. Snetden
of Columbia. says; The st place
must be given to English"
We are ted continually, tn secon
dairy education should fit the pupil for
life. The director Of High School. of
Pittsburgh dresse a, ire liar letter to
the business firms Of the city, asking
them to state what is most necessary
in order to fit boys for success in bust
ness. NinetY-nine per cent said Teach
them to write and speak the English
language accurately and forcibly."
The general manager Of an interna-
tional business house which employees
thousands of statesmen said, Il never
get enough men for more important
positions of the firm because there are
so very few who can present their own
arguments clearly and overcome the
arguments of the other side without
giving offense.
A successful engineer must under
stand mathematics, he needs, also, to
master the art that will enable him to
enlist the cooperation of capitalists,
whose funds will be necessary to the
promotion of his enterprises. Of two
engineers one may have the better plan
for the piece Of work; but if he is IN
able to present its merits clearly, the
other may secure the contract.
Prof. Cubberley of Leland Stanford
says, The demand that our secondary
schools shall reformulate their aims in
terms of socially useful ends, is becom-
ing more urgent each year"
The school must, first, give command
of those instrumentalities and powers
which are quite generally to be employ
ed in an executive capacity as a means
of utilization.
The aim of English instruction should
be to furnish such social environment
on its intellectual side as will serve, on
the one hand, to stimulate and arouse
social instincts and impulses, and, on
the other hand, to give opportunity for
the expression or these through proper
language forms.
The mark of truly educated men and
women is their easy observance of
grammatical form.
English is made up of five problems,
grammar. spelling, written compost
ton, oral composition and literature
which includes oral reading.
1t is doubtful if the study of formal
grammar in high school will serve the
end desired.
Hall-Quest says: Before reaching
high school the pupil should have been
thoroughly drilled in correct speaking
| because this is the period when habits
of correct speech are most easily form
ed.
Colleges are making the criticism
that high schools are not doing thorough
ly the work in English, consequently
the student Is handicapped when he
enters college.
From many direction comes the COM
plant that boys and girls enters high
school without knowing the fundamen-
tails of English grammar, or that il
they know them, they do not make use
of their knowledge in their speech and
IN their composition.
Mr.. Gammons of the high school OF
Holyoke, Massachusetts says. Il have
never found formal grammar of much
practical aid to the pupils in writing Oh
speaking if they have not learned 1t be.
fore they enter the secondary school
The fault, if there be one, lies not st
much in the teaching as in the subject
matter, and the short time allowed fol-
the teaching of English. Often The
hands of the grade teacher are tied; she
is expected to teach what is given hel
to teach, in some definitely prescribed
way and in insufficient time. Methods
of presenting subjects are most ex
cellent in giving one ideas; yet the fac
remains that teachers. like other people
are not all alike, and plan that woulC
be used by one teacher with marked
success, might for another equally
strong teacher. be entirely unsatis
factory.
Many attempts are being made t.
solve the grammar problem. A recen'
interesting one is the study made by
Prof. Charters of Kansas City. who be
lieves that the child is hindered by too
much technical grammar. When we
study the history of language, we fine
that grammar came late In its develop
ment. 1t is an analysis made by