p. 784 | Teaching Public Speaking by Correspondence

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 14, 1913

Teaching Public Speaking by Correspondence

By C. C. Lewis

THREE years ago, at the Berrien Springs Educational Council, the teaching work of our denominational colleges was divided into sections, and I was asked to take charge of the public speaking section, and to promote, if possible, the teaching of public speaking throughout the denomination.

Seemingly I have done nothing to justify this appointment, but I have been thinking about the matter and trying to see where and how to take hold. During the past two years I have been teaching classes in public speaking at Pacific Union College, and I have learned a good deal, whether my students have or not; and now I am engaged to teach the same subject at the Foreign Mission Seminary during the coming year. I have also decided to prepare the instruction in the form of lessons for the Fireside Correspondence School, thus letting the Seminary lessons and the Correspondence School lessons develop together.

I am not wholly without preparation for this work, although not much of a public speaker myself. In the matter of public speaking I know a good thing when I hear it, even though I may not be able to produce it myself. More than twenty years ago, while teaching English at Union College, I conducted special classes in this subject, because I saw the great need in this direction, and no one else seemed to have a burden to supply it. Since that time I have heard a number of my old pupils say that they received more benefit from this subject than from any other which they pursued while in college. At that time, also, I took regular work in the public speaking

class of the University of Nebraska, principally to see how such a class was conducted. During the past year I have taken through correspondence the lessons of Mr. Grenville Kleiser, so widely advertised by the Funk and Wagnalls Company, and I drew from these lessons what could be adapted to the needs of my pupils in regular class work.

These studies in the university and these lessons by Mr. Kleiser have been of much benefit to me, chiefly in helping me to see that I could do nearly as well myself, though I am far from being the one that ought to say so. Indeed, I think that for our own people, and for our own work, I can do better; for my lessons will be prepared from the standpoint of the message that God has called us as a denomination to deliver to the world. These other lessons are, of course, prepared from the worldly standpoint, and hence are not so good for our particular use.

Mr. Kleiser’s lessons cost twenty-five dollars for twenty-five lessons, and they are well worth the money. But his lessons are entirely one-sided; that is, he does all the work. The lessons are printed, are mailed evidently by clerks, and are just the same for all persons. In this respect the Fireside Correspondence School lessons will be like them; but in another respect there will be a great difference. Mr. Kleiser’s lessons come week by week, with exercises for the student to take, with good examples for him to follow, and with exhortations for him to be faithful in his work; but they do not ask the student to report to the school week by week his progress and his experience. Our work will require responses from the student week by week, and these responses will include written exercises, will bring the pupils into personal touch with the teacher, and will give them the privilege of asking such questions as they may desire. Mr. Kleiser’s lessons are twenty-five in number and cost twenty-five dollars; the Fireside Correspondence School lessons will be forty in number, and will cost fourteen dollars plus one dollar enrolment fee. I have succeeded in finding what I consider a better series of books than those I have used in the past. They are entitled Phillips’s “Effective Speaking” and “Natural Drills in Expression,” Straw’s “Lessons in Expression,” and Gregg’s “Parliamentary Law” (I should have said that I connect the study of Parliamentary law with my lessons in public speaking). I have not yet learned what the cost of these books will be, but I think it will be from three to four dollars for the set.

The first numbers of these lessons are ready, and those who desire may begin work at any time, the sooner the better. I would suggest that tent companies, Bible schools, and college classes might study the lessons together, and divide the expense. They could organize little public-speaking societies, order the lessons in the name of the secretary, pursue the instruction together, and unite in preparing the matter for the recitation papers.

And now, will not all who are interested in promoting the practice of public speaking throughout the denomination unite in securing a large class of pupils for the public-speaking course in the Fireside Correspondence School during the coming year? Will not our editors assist in advancing this good cause by printing this article, or the substance of it, in their papers? And will not our ministers and missionary workers, who would be most benefited by such instruction, arrange to take the lessons, either singly or in groups, as may be most convenient?

Those who are interested are invited to correspond with the undersigned if they desire further information. Enrolment blanks and copies of the new calendar of the Fireside Correspondence School will be sent free upon application. Address C. C. Lewis, principal Fireside Correspondence School, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.