How Our Spelling Changed by James Pitman, Simplified Spelling Society Books, 1975
In 1949, a Labour MP, Dr. Mont Follick, introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons, which failed at the second reading by 87 votes to 84. However in 1953 he again won the ballot and this time it passed the second reading by 65 votes to 53 after a debate including the statement by Ralph Morley MP that "As a class teacher for nearly 50 years, I know it is our ridiculous and illogical spelling which is the chief handicap in teaching children to read." It was then approved in committee despite Government opposition.
Anticipating opposition from the Lords, Dr Follick asked the Minister of Education if she "will state her policy towards proposals by a competent research organization to investigate possible improvements in the teaching of reading by means of simplified spelling."[1] The minister, Florence Horsbrugh, replied that she felt that “Any change to the spelling system will be inimical to our language and destroy our culture and links to our past. No more will children read Shakespeare in the original”[2].
Seeing a chance to give the government a bloody nose, Clement Attlee said “The Commons has spoken. And the government wishes to allow the unelected, unaccountable, Lords to override the people’s elected representatives in this matter? A Labour government will investigate the possibilities of changing our spelling, in accordance with the Commons’ decision.” At the time it was almost certainly intended as a quick one-liner not to be followed up on, but it changed the history of our language forever.
[1] All OTL so far.
[2] OTL she was cautiously in favour – TTL she maybe has just had a bad day or is aware of the question in advance and has been instructed to say no.
BTW, I keep having Word “correct” my spellings to US as I write this.
And the thread title should not be taken as indicative of TTL spelling.
In 1949, a Labour MP, Dr. Mont Follick, introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons, which failed at the second reading by 87 votes to 84. However in 1953 he again won the ballot and this time it passed the second reading by 65 votes to 53 after a debate including the statement by Ralph Morley MP that "As a class teacher for nearly 50 years, I know it is our ridiculous and illogical spelling which is the chief handicap in teaching children to read." It was then approved in committee despite Government opposition.
Anticipating opposition from the Lords, Dr Follick asked the Minister of Education if she "will state her policy towards proposals by a competent research organization to investigate possible improvements in the teaching of reading by means of simplified spelling."[1] The minister, Florence Horsbrugh, replied that she felt that “Any change to the spelling system will be inimical to our language and destroy our culture and links to our past. No more will children read Shakespeare in the original”[2].
Seeing a chance to give the government a bloody nose, Clement Attlee said “The Commons has spoken. And the government wishes to allow the unelected, unaccountable, Lords to override the people’s elected representatives in this matter? A Labour government will investigate the possibilities of changing our spelling, in accordance with the Commons’ decision.” At the time it was almost certainly intended as a quick one-liner not to be followed up on, but it changed the history of our language forever.
[1] All OTL so far.
[2] OTL she was cautiously in favour – TTL she maybe has just had a bad day or is aware of the question in advance and has been instructed to say no.
BTW, I keep having Word “correct” my spellings to US as I write this.
And the thread title should not be taken as indicative of TTL spelling.
