Letter Writing by Ethel Voorheis

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1908

Letter Writing

By Ethel Voorheis

NEARLY all children and many adults think it a difficult and disagreeable task to write a business letter. It is our duty as teachers to present these distasteful subjects in as pleasing a way as possible. In the first place, we must not let them think for a minute that they are doing anything that is unpleasant or in the least distasteful to them. This is the plan I tried:—

I had a number of business letters to write, ordering books, pamphlets, and tracts; and as I was very busy, I told my language classes that it would be a great help to me if they would write them for me. Of course it was delightful to write teacher’s letters for her, and all were interested. I told each one what his letter was to contain, and when the different letters were written and “done just right,” I gave each one the money needed for his letter. After school closed, I went with them to the post-office, where each one got the stamps or money-order that he needed for his letter. It was a great pleasure to prepare “real letters.” Children like to do real things. ETHEL VOORHEIS.