Prefatory.

One special aim of Associations of Teachers should be the discussion of points in the wide field of Method, and the discovery of the best means of doing the daily work of the schoolroom. It is in accordance with such a practical purpose that I seek on the present occasion to bring before you certain ideas on an important practical subject—the teaching of English. I do so, because I am convinced that more might be done in this subject than one daily sees to be done. Its teaching should be attended with greater pleasure to both teacher and scholar than it is. It should produce higher results than we see, and give our children greater practical power over the language when they leave school for the great business of life, in which it is the chief instrument.

As far as its structure and use are considered, English is taught in our common schools under the three heads of Grammar, Analysis, and Composition. These subjects I shall treat of separately and in the order named, and then take up the special point of Method I desire to bring before you now—their combined teaching from the first, with Composition as the medium and end.