Weston Historical Society Digital Newspaper Collections

Times & Guide (1909), 28 Feb 1917, p. 3

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' The average school life is about seven years, and it is estimated that it takes one year of this time directly, or indirectly, to learn spelling, rather in an unsuccessful effort to learn to spell. They don't learn. The truant of- ficer for this riding of York tells me that the letters he receives show that the people generally are poor spellers. Newspaper men claim that the letters they receive, even from educated people, show very poor spelling. The au- fhors of the famous Speller cannot spell. In their list of words and the following sentences they spell picknicker and picnicker. I have even heard of a, High School Inspector, who was delivering an address to a Principal on the crime of misspelling, being shocked by the statement that the last report of the said inspector contained three glaring errors in spelling. It has been proved conclusively that with a simplified system of spelling at least half ayeai- can be saved in the first two years ot school alone, to say nothing of the time that would be saved in the upper forms of the Public School and in the High School. Careful calculation and collection of statistics has shown that every year a boy spends in school gives him an increased earning power equivalent to. $2,000 a year. If we take half that amount, $1000 Sor one year, $500 for half a year, in every school life Spelling Reform would save at least half a year or $500. In Weston Public and High Schools there are over 500 pupils saving half a year for each, which they now waste in an unsuccessful attempt to learn spelling, would mean a saving to the com- munity during the school" life of these children $250,000. It we say the average school life is eight years, then the present system of Spelling is costing the people of Weston at least $30,000 per annum. If this extra time .were spent on agriculture or industrial training it would be an immense qeeonorttie gain to the community. a host of other words. Then the authors of the Public School Speller have taken the greatest pains to make it as coniu-sing as possible, and thus turn but bad spellers. In this course they have been eminently successful. On 'one page of the Speller the following words occur in order-pavilion, cotil- Mon, Vermilion, postillion. The pupil will get confused as to which words have one 'I' and which have two. They should all have one 'l' and then there would be no confusion. But the authors of the Speller went out of their way to force the confusion upon thechild mind, because in the Imperial Dictionary, which is taken as the authority for the Spoiler, cotilion and postman are spelled with one 'l' as well as twtr'ls', and moreover it makes the spellings with one '1' --cotilion and posrtilion--its first choice. There is absolutely no reason why the absurd second choice should have been forced With its confusion upon the struggling minds of our children. Here is an- other example taken from the authority on which our Spoiler is based-- honor, honorarium, honorary, honorific, honourable, honourableness hon- ourably, honourer, honourless. Read over the list-and see if you can re- member which have 'or' and which 'our'. Read it to your child and see it he can remember. Spell them all as the majority of good authorities, with an 'or', and how much easier it is'. All our papers, the majority of our books spell it without the 'u'. Why should the child mind be loaded up with remembering the distinctions? There is no uniformity in the Speller as to the use of 'se' or 'ae'. Outside the Speller there is a wild chaos, e.g., ana- lyse, analyze. This is one of the most confusing things in spelling.- The -child without any rule to guide him must remember by grinding and cram- ming the text-book spelling in each (5tWe---a most unnecessary burden. These are only a tew of the bewildering whims ot the Ontario School sys- tem of spelling. C In the High Schools we never have to teach pupils to spell Latin, French or German. Each sound in these languages is represented certain definite letters. It the word is pronounced the pupil knows at once how it should be spelled. But we have to spend a great deal of time in unsuccessful efforts to try to get them to spell English. One reason for this is the expression of one sound by many symbols; for, example the sound of long i may be re- presented in one of the following thirteen ways: Die, alkali, high, cry, aisle, aye, seismic, geyser, choir, guide, buy, eye, isle. Or the same symbol may have many pounds, as witness the following eight, for ough: cough, rough, through, though, plough, hough, thorough, hiccough. Two or three in each muse would be enough and to spare. Another reason is the great varieties of spelling, for the same "word, e.g., one dictionary gives five different ways of spelling gypsy. Every author has his own special spelling of geographi- cal names, e.g., Deccan, Dekan, Dakhan are thretrways of spelling the same word. The Standard Dictionary gives a list of almost 1000 disputed spellings. Added to all this The Education Department has adopted a system of spell- ing different from that in use by the newspapers and the commercial world --a system so foolish and irrational that it will never be adopted generally in this country. When a pupil sees a waggon in the text book'and reads of Cruickshank’s Wagon Works, he naturally gets confused as to the correct form to use. The same is true of woollen, woolen, travelling, traveling, and Some time ago the Editor asked me to contribute some articles on edu- cational subjects. By request spelling reform has been selected as the firtrt topic. To people who have given the subject no thought Spelling Re- form is of no importance. As a. matter of fact, with the exception of the application of Scientific Education to, Agriculture and Industry, Spelling Re- form is the most important educational question that confronts Canada and the Empire at the present time. F SOME OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS at Ottawa, all three ot the western provinces Show large increases in the number ot livestock raised in 1916, as Icomparod with 1913. the year previous $012119 war. Although there had been artt1ight gradual increase in the ream inunediately preceding 1913, all classes ot livestock except swine show greater ‘percentage ot increase in the years after the commencement of the war than those previous. The figures for hogs Show a decrease, due to the sev- eral large war orders received by some ot the western packing firms from the allies. Ono firm alone is said to have reefeived an order tor ham and bacon that called for 350,000 head of hogs. t The increase in the number? _of According to the figures given in the Census and Statistics Bulletin issued by 2hg Department of Trade and Commerce The modern farmer l very wide awake, and especially ose of the three prairie provinces of Canada, and naturally as soon as he saw the prices of livestock soaring on the large world markets he began to pay more atten- ttion to stock raising, gradually find- ing as he did so that by combining it with"the grain production he was able to make two profits where he hitherto had one. Ni [1TH the price of beef and other meats scaring to hitherto un- heard-of heights, and every newspaper carrying stories about the future prices at boots and shoes and other articles made of leather. tImax, may be a modicum ot comfort to be taken from the fact that the farmers and ranchers of Western Canada are now turning their attention to wattle and stock raising to an extent that would not have been believed possible a few years ago. Canada English Spelling an Irrational Chaos I. Spelling Reform What It Costs The Dominion and Provincial Got.. emments and the (human Paeitic Railway, through its Agwieulmral and Animal Induetry Branch, have an aid- ed the farmers in every possible way, and have published broadcast litera- mm showing the Mat results that hare that have been marhetetl daring the ‘past couple of years must be taken in- to oomrideeatAm.i Many large war (mien were ttned in Western Canada. The report estimates that there are at present 2,848,354 cattle in the three western provinces, 565,709 being milch eowsamtthettalaneetreetandother oath This shows an new oi - IS percent over 1913, and also thevéryhrgnnumbea-ofbeet cattle Otter and also another of $7.50 per head for 1,600 lambs. A short time asset reftestag these otters he tHieettas- ed another 500 ewes, SOLDIERS SAY been obtained on the various experi- émental and demonstration farms. The Canadian Pacific has several of these farms throughout the West, with an expert in charge ot each, and at every cattle sale these farms are represented by animals of a very high class, both hoa- breeding, mile/h and beef animals. The experts in charge ot those farms will at all times aid in any way they can the farmer who seeks advice with rxstereaeetothebeststoe1ttmgoiutor and also the proper way to secure the greatest results. As an instance of the demand for good breeding stock, eighty-one head ot shorthorn cattle realized $27,620 at a sale fecently held at Calgary, Alta. The top price obtained was $885, which was mid for a thoroughbred bull. among the natiéns of the earth It is impossible to emphasize the tremendous and overwhelming imperi- al importance of Spelling Reform. In South Africa after the Boer War the Boers were becoming rapidly Anglicized. Then the Dutch simplified their spelling and the Boers preferred to have their children learn Dutch rather than English. The result was the revival of the Boer spirit, and the attempt at rebellion at the outbreak of the present war. In Malta there is the same conflict between English and italian-a. conflict that could be settled by spelling reform. Think of the immense value it would be wto India. On ac- count of its rich cosmopolitan vocabulary, its simple syntax and lack ot in- flections, English is one of the most easily learned languages in the world. Its spelling makes it one of the most difficult to learn to read. Simplify- the spelling and English will be the world language of the future. Think of the colossal commercial and moral advantages that would thus accrue to the Arurld-Saxon race. In January, 1914, Lord Bryce made this state- ment in the University of London, “A few months ago in Japan, where, as all over the Farther East, English is becoming' the language of commerce, some Japanese friends deplored to me the difficulties our spelling throws in the way of their efforts to spread the use of our language, and asked if we were never going to reform it. Merely as a ‘business proposition' such a reform would be worth a vast deal to British trade." The testimony of such an emi- nent authority should remove any doubts as to the immense importance and desirability of spelling reform. Some of the leading educationalists of Bri- tain. Canada and the United States are behind the movement. It is making rapid progress: . Its coming is absolutely inevitable. Its adoption will be hailed with reJOIcing by the pupils and their teachers. It will prove one of the most potent means of spreading Anglo-Saxon ideals and liberty in the world, and Will be a. powerful aid in maintaining a Just and lasting peace in their own language-most of them of United States origin. The present generation talk English, but few ot them read it. Why? The great ditfi- culty of foreigners in learning to read English is the spelling-simplify that and your object will be largely gained. Think of its value as an aid to set- tling the bi-lingual question. Make English easier to read and the French will take to it more kindly. On the same basis of calculation how many million dollars are wasted throughout Canada. by inflicting our present system ot spelling on the pu- pils of our schools. Then look at our large and growing foreign population. How can be best make them good Canadian citizens? Get them imbued with British ideals and sentiments, by letting them read English. What do they read now? On the street-cars, etc., you will see them reading papers SMOKES. WILL THEIR CALL BE IN VAIN? National Importance of Spelling Reform SEND SOCKS & THE TIMES & GUIDE, WESTON. WEDNEsi'ir. FE! Imperial Importance While there is no prospect of an im- mediate reduction in the price of meat as a resdlt of the increased interest displayed by the farmers of the west, the prairies of the Canadian West have unlimited room tor the raising of all kinds ot Mamet, and with the farm- ers taking a greater interest is live. stock than ever before, Cam is des.. tined tp play a large part in solving the meat problem which the world now faces, and which is likely to become still more acute at the close of the war when European countries will be buy- ing animals to team their herds. while'the average price was $340. and when it is known that 65 ot these ani- mals were under eighteen mouths aid, it Wm be seen that they were a tine lot of Wis. Emery, Thursday, March 22---,rohn Shirkey. lot 19, con. 6, York. Friday, March 28----Andr Verity, con. 1, Tecumseh. quday, March 26--Scott Bros., Al- bion, near Castle Derrick. Wednesday, March 28---Daniet O'.. Leary, lot 6, con. 8, Adjala. Thursday, March 8---A, Thompson, lot 6, con. 11, King. Wednesday. March 14th-- A. and J, Summerville. lot 17. com 9, Vaughan. Elder's Mills. C.P.R. Tuesday, March 20---A, F. Lund, lot 32, con. A, Etobicoke. Thursday, March 15-Executors'aale of the estate of the late D. McLellan, lot 29, con. l, Etobicoke. Thursday, March M--Exeeutors' sale of the estate of the late James Rowntree, lot 25, con. 6, York, near (misisattstofNaeseousatoisto be conducted by the Auctioneers, J. I. McEm & Son, Walton. Tuesday, March 13----Whiuam Bros., lot 22, con. 4. Albion. Thursday. March 1--Auetion sale ot household furniture. H. A. Gardner. Beverley St., Manon. Friday, March 2 Names Cameron. Vaughan, north at Velour. lot 1. Con.6, March 8---Allen Betteridge, tat con., Etobicoke, lot 26. Monday. March '--Jotut Anninzs. 5th con., King. Tuesday, March tth - Henry Foot, con. 11, King. Wednesday, March T-Geo. A. Mc- Clure, lot 14, con. 9, Vaughan. Friday, March il--W. o", Abernathy. lot 18, con. 7, Tecumseh. Tuesday, March 6th--Hearr mu, Islington. McEwen tr. Son's List of Sales will bring you the desired results. It's the most convenient way and the cost is 2 mere trifle when you consider the service rendered TWENTY-FIVE CENTS is our charms_TRYaLIT THE mlcz OF @5135 (iilt,,t,rsissrrer,qr, r----] TO INVESTORS I-----.--, 'A NAME? - IN THE Fh-fhi_astett-ttt.prteileqteof'umrrtderirtgatparartda-tlrtt-. "ttwequitmiertttt_trt-stetfanyanotrmrrttrnadeundarartr%tur-F- MCanada othortl'nnanhuuomesury Biaorottterlikeettttetdah-atity. PtmaodFttieetn_ttr-rpurposrmortly. Aatmmiasiitetofart-tnrMttetopttrtatrttw%ttea_dttrr-ttmdtmtdamt atrteStttrtgtrtmttrtaidtttd-mA1nr-tofatspWatiortstbrttttsatrtekwttitittttearttter ttrt-met-ttutter-y-tApril-ttut/ter/ttet-oi-est-ttar-a' astretaidttartttirtNrtad0atttt.ratsetffieeporoerttporannumfrrmtthedaha' TEMES & GUIDE DOMINION tll: tlullilll IElliN1llE $flltl( HOSE WHO, FROM TIME TO TIME, HAVE FUNDS REQUIRING INVESTMENT MAY PURCHASE _ AT PAR fMmri.rt' -tsttt at Omaha. 1919. For-tttio-a-ttiD-tr-tWMF-vote'... M .. I." 1flljjilihrfFirijijlii, THE PEOPLE OF CANADA TO TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE NEXT WAR LOAN THE MINISTER OF FINANCE tfjh'iiii, r .1“ PI RENT -_ n-II $537 Ilt ,', 'rGit SALE i6 SJATION WANTED it; PERSONALS ig, ”grown mum) , R SAte BEGIN NOW REQUESTS DIPA 'tT-tr" or "MutoC. DITA-A 1 Ea??? tri, gig: it 1

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