The following mistakes are likely to be
made in this beginning work. Pleased by
the free expression and vivid imagination
shown in the written composition of pupils,
teachers often place too little emphasis upon
mechanical correctness. It is excellent to
encourage freedom and quantity of expres-
sion in Oral Language. In Written Compo-
sition, however, brief paragraphs, as nearly

152



THE FIRST THREE GRADES

correct as possible, should be the aim at
first.
A uniform standard as to heading, margin,
and other points, is lacking in too many
schools. For instance, a Third Grade teacher
may have her pupils leave a three-fourths
inch margin on both sides of the page, while
a Fourth or Fifth Grade instructor may
require a margin only on the left side. In
one class the heading of a letter may be
written in three lines; in another, in two;
and in still another, in one line. Again in
one class a comma may be used after the
street, city, state, and day of month, and a
period after the year; while, in a higher
class, a comma after the city and one after
the day of month may be the only punctua-
tion employed. Pupils should be told that
both ways are in accordance with good usage,
but one form should be used throughout the
grades in order that a right punctuation
habit may be established.
It is not sufficient simply to show pupils
the right form or punctuation a few times.
They should absolutely memorize the facts
taught, and not be allowed to go on from
grade to grade omitting or misusing them.
