Page:Handbook of simplified spelling.djvu/66

 "Board Lacks Authority"

Objection to simplified spelling has been made because those who propose and urge it ar a "self-appointed" body, without authority to change English spelling. The Board replies that the customary method of inaugurating any reform is by voluntary association and organization of those who strongly believ in it, and ar willing to giv time, effort, and mony to promote it. The Board has never assumed any authority to enforce its recommendations; it merely claims competence to make them (see Part 1, pp. 16, 17, 29 - 32).

Not Good Enuf for Anybody

There ar some who hav at least profest to oppose orthografic improvement on the ground that a spelling that was good enuf for them is good enuf for their children. Unfortunately English spelling at present is not good enuf for anybody—not even for those who would deprive their children of any educational advantage not enjoyd by themselvs.

Do These Remember HOW Hard It Was?

To argue for the retention of our present spelling on the ground that it affords good training for the memory is to place a higher value on a good memory than on good reasoning ability. Scool-children hav ample opportunity for memory-training while learning things better worth remembering than the confusing anomalies of English spelling.

Homonims

Another objection sometimes heard is that simplified spelling wil abolish the distinction now existing between words having the same sound but different mean -