Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-08
TEACH SPEAKING
By H. Addington Bruce

TIME recent official criticism OF a certain
city school system to the effect that it
is markedly deficient in teaching it's
pupils to speak might justly be made of most
school systems. And it is serious defect,
particularly in a democracy.
For, as the report containing the criticism
points out;
"Of the two phases of language work
oral and written compoSition-oral speech
and conversation are the more important to
the majority of the children of the public
schools. The best gift with which we can
send children into active life is the ability
to talk intelligently and entertainingly.
'"To stand on ones feet and tell what one
knows is as valuable as it is rare, for in a
country like ours, governed by the people,
the power to express thought can hardly be
overestimated.
"People convene in caucuses mass meet
ings, church meetings, school meetings, COM
mercial club, country conventions, etc., to
confer upon question of vital interest to the
individual, the family, and the state. How
often at such meetings a person who has in
telligent and we'll defined views is compelled
to remain silent because he has not acquired
the art of speaking upon subjects with which
he is perfectly familiar
And the greater pity of it is that those who
can speak readily because of perhaps in
born facility for oral expression too often
have not merely an imperfect but a preiu-
diced familiarity with the subjects on which
they speak. Yet because they can speak
readily, while their betters sit in a tongue
tied silence, they are able to infect others
with their faulty, possibly mischievous ideas.
Even for reasons bearing on the welfare
not of the state but of the individual, spe-
clal attention should be paid in every school
TO the teaching of oral expression.
Inability to speak we'll may in later years
prove serious obstacle to the earning of a
livelihood. There are some vocations-nota-
bly, the ministry and LAWN which an in
ferior speaker is virtually doomed to career
OF obscurity and poor pay.
In many others the power of expression
cOnfers distinct advantages over ones COM
petitors. More than one travelling salesman,
for example has achieved success largely
through ability to talk fluently, forcefully,
and convincingly. Whereas more than one
salesman, because of inability thus to talk.
mas been forced into some less congenial vo-
cation.
For the matter of that, ineptness in speak
ing may debar a man from even getting a
chance to show his ability for work which
he really could do we'll. Employers, not I'M
naturally, tend to be unfavorably impressed
by men who apply for employment in halt
ing, awkward way.
Fortunately, it is never too late to learn to
speak well, as thousands of adult students OF
oral expression have demonstrated in their
own person.
But this does not lessen the responsibility
Of the schools, does not excuse their failure.
The mere fact that so many adults have to
attend special schools of expression or study
mail courses in expression only emphasizes
the inefficiency of most schools for children
so far as, the teaching of speaking is con-
cerned
And until boys and girls are more generally
trained to speak effectively it is safe to say
that democratic ideals as we'll as personal as
pirations must to large extent remain I'M
realized and thwarted.
Copyright, 1920, by The Associated News
paperS.)