Imatges de pàgina
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IN

ENGLISH AND LATIN;

A

NEW AND ORIGINAL SYSTEM,

APPLICABLE TO ANY LANGUAGE.

FOR THE USE OF GRAMMAR SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOLS,

NORMAL SCHOOLS, AND ACADEMIES.

BY

H. R. GREENE, A. M.,

PRINCIPAL OREAD COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE, FOR YOUNG LADIES,
WORCESTER, MASS.

NEW YORK:

WOOLWORTH, AINSWORTH & CO.,

51, 53, AND 55 JOHN STREET.

1871.

HARVARD
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870,

By HARRIS R. GREENE,

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

TO THE TEACHER.

Ir is customary among grammarians, to consider the science of grammar under four heads, viz: Orthography, Etymology, Syntax and Prosody. Of these four, the first two classifications regard simply the verbal forms of words, either in their primary character, which we call orthography; or under the modifications which they assume in discourse, which we term etymology.

Now manifestly in regard to these two departments of grammar, there can be in the main but one method of presentation, and but one method of learning. These primary and modified forms of words are simply to be memorized. The memory can be aided by systematic classification, to some extent, but all that can be gained in this way, is so obvious, that our text books whether in English, Latin, or Greek grammar, present but little substantial variety. Nor do the methods of teaching differ very materially here. It is simply and only a work of the memory, and this work can only be successfully accomplished, by direct labor on the part of the pupil, and drill on the part of the teacher.

In these departments, moreover teachers are little inclined to be dissatisfied with their text books, or with their success. Even in the case of English Grammar, if I mistake not, where there is almost universal complaint, in both the particulars above mentioned, the source of difficulty is not found in the methods pursued by our grammarians in those departments of grammar under consideration, but rather in the method of treatment in the department of Syntax.

Again it should be noted that the Orthography and the Etymology of every language is entirely peculiar to itself. There is here comparatively

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