Excerpt from Standards in English a Course of Study in Oral and Written Composition for Elementary Schools The Course of Study herewith submitted is the outcome of an investigation of the language problem in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which was carried on for a space of two years, 1913-1915, under the direction of the writer, who during that period served as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the city named. It would seem to be important at this time to state the purposes, methods, and results of that investigation, in order that those who think it worth while to use this course may be able properly to do so. Hence the following: In January and February, 1913, a series of conferences on English in the Cambridge public schools brought out the following points: 1. That the English work in the schools was unsatisfactory. (Proposition tentatively accepted.) 2. That there was considerable haziness of opinion as to just exactly wherein it was unsatisfactory. (Examination needed.) 3. That there was also considerable haziness of opinion as to just exactly why it was unsatisfactory. (Examination needed.) Examination Of Proposition No.2 Having accepted as tentatively true the first proposition, it became necessary before any advance step could be taken to find out definitely and clearly just what was the matter with the English. The place selected for investigation was the first-year work in the High and Latin School. This grade was chosen because it seemed logical to assume that pupils, on graduating from the elementary school, should show a definite standard of achievement, which might be expressed simply and concretely. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.