JONES began his work of charity. ... The parents in Wales were as much opposed to the teaching of the Welsh language as the Irish parents have been to the teaching of Irish ; but they gave up the conceit at the persuasion of the Rev. THOMAS CHARLES, as he himself tells us in continuation:-
'At first the strong prejudice, which universally prevailed against teaching them to read Welsh first, and the idea assumed that they could not learn English so well if previously instructed in the Welsh language, proved a great stumbling-block in the way of parents to send their children to the Welsh schools; together with another conceit they had, that, if they could read English, they would soon learn of themselves to read Welsh. But now, these idle and groundless conceits are universally scouted. This change has been produced, not so much by disputing, as by the evident salutary effects of the schools, the great delight with which children attend them, and the great progress they make in the acquisition of knowledge. ...
'As to the expediency of teaching young children in the first instance to read the language they generally speak and best understand, it needs no proof, for it is self-evident. However, I beg your attention for a few moments to the following particulars:—
'1. The time necessary to teach them to read the Bible in their vernacular is short—not exceeding six months in general. ... Teaching them English requires two or three years' time—during which time they are concerned only about dry terms, without receiving an idea for their improvement.
'2. Welsh words convey ideas to their infant minds as soon as they can read them— which is not the case when they are taught to read a language they do not understand.
3. Previous instruction in their native tongue helps them to learn English much sooner—instead of proving, in any degree, an inconvenience. This I have had repeated proofs of, and can confidently vouch for the truth of it. I took this method of instructing my own children, with the view of convincing the country of a fallacy of the general notion which prevailed to the contrary ; and I have persuaded others to follow my plans, which, without one exception, has proved the truth of what I conceived to be really the case.'
Y mae y dyfyniadau uchod yn Gymraeg yn debyg fel y canlyn:-
'Yn Nghymru, yn 1730, gwnai yr athrawon, yn achlysurol, ddefnydd o'r iaith Gymraeg i egluro geiriau Saesnig ; ond gwelodd y Parch. GRIFFITH JONES annigonolrwydd y dull hwn, a mynodd i'r plant gael eu dysgu yn eu hiaith eu hunain i ddechreu. ... Bu y gŵr da hwn fyw hyd 1761 , gan weithio bob amser dros yr hen iaith yn ei wlad, er mwyn ei defnyddio yn offeryn yn addysgiad ei gydwladwyr tlodion. Trwy ei ymdrechion egniol, fe'i galluogwyd i sefydlu ysgolion ar gylch
