isa-normaladvance-1909-00072

Description:	72THE NORMAL ADVANCElection I have in connection with it is that Ihad the measles during about two weeks of thattime, so whatever impression I may be able togive you will be based mainly upon the workI have had this term.As you will observe, it is announced in thecatalogue that the practical work of the secondterm consists mainly in writing exposition. Noother subject that I have encountered is so welladapted to produce in a person the state ofmind which Socrates deemed desirable in aseeker after knowledge. You remember thedialogue between Socrates and Meno, which weused to read together ?I have often thought if the latter had beenasked to write an expository theme on the subject of virtue, Socrates would have accomplished the end he sought with a great dealless trouble to himself than he encounteredwhen he tried by his questioning to make Menorealize his ignorance. When we are asked toselect a subject, to expand, illustrate, and exemplify it, it seems easy but it takes only ashort time to find out that we are ignorant ofa great many things that we thought we knew.I dont know whether that is a part of thepurpose of the course or not but, it has thatresult, anyway, and if Socrates was right inconsidering this a desirable state of mind forthe learner, I wonder that the second termswork is not required, and placed as nearly aspossible at the beginning of the Freshmanyear.There is another phase of the work which isnot mentioned in the catalogue, and that is theoral work. Each student is required to give afive-minute talk each Monday morning. I dontknow why this isnt mentioned in the catalogue, unless it is for the same reason that adentist hangs out a sign of painless dentistryinstead of a pair of forceps, to encourage thoseneeding work done. It does occupy a minorpart of the course when judged by the actualtime consumed in giving and discussing thework, but when judged by the number of heartbeats it causes, it occupies a very prominentplace, indeed. But, of course, the very factthat a persons heart does beat faster, and histongue does have a tendency to cleave to theroof of his mouth when he stands to talk before people, is argument for this part of thecourse, and is proof of its value. And it isbecause I know of your timidity in talking before people that I recommend this part of thecourse to you. I have now reached the pointwhere I can stand without the support of achair or a desk, and can breathe with comparative ease, though I do not always know whatI am saying. But I hope that by the time Ihave finished the third course, I will have attained also the latter distinction.Another helpful part of the work whichought to be of especial interest to you, is theclass criticisms. I can hear you now givingthis quotation from Burns:O wad some power the giftie gie usTo see oursels as ithers see us.I can assure you that you will be given anexcellent opportunity to find out how itherssee you, and I feel safe in predicting that forthe first few times, at least, after you havestood up before the class, and have seen thepencils poised in air ready to take down themistakes you make, and after you have heardthe same discussed in class, and have receivedthe first few papers handed back for revision,you will not be quite so enthusiastic in givingyour heretofore favorite quotation. But dontbe discouraged. The criticism is given in afriendly, helpful way, and though you maythink you speak reasonably good English,youll be surprised at some of the mistakes youactually do make, and this is a most effectualway of impressing them upon you, and ofcourse, without this impression there is nohope that they will be eradicated.And now, in this connection, and as a bit ofparting advice, let me beseech you to begin atonce to break yourself of your inveterate habitof the indiscriminate use of participles. Whatever else I may forget about the work thisterm, I shall not forget the tone of voice or theexpression on the face of the Professor of Eng-
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34102
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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