The History Teacher's Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, September, 1909Various
History
The History Teacher's Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, September, 1909
Various
History -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals
A word in regard to map work and note books. The correlation of
geography with history is, of course, indispensable. In certain places
throughout our subject, which I shall point out from time to time, it
is necessary that the geography of England and of Europe should be
clearly in mind. During this early period these notable points are (1)
the probable geographical conditions before “the channel” was cut;
(2) the divisions of Great Britain and Ireland at the time of Roman
occupation, showing the great walls and the Roman roads; (3) the Saxon
period--the homes of the Saxons, and the Heptarchy; (4) the Danelaw
and Alfred’s kingdom; (5) locations of battles and other points of
historical interest (such as the “holy isle” of St. Columba, Wedmore,
etc.) through 1066. I know no better way to make these five or more
topics clear than by outline maps. In using outline maps, neatness and
clearness are the two points to emphasize. Unless your text-book has
good maps your pupils should get Gardiner’s “School Atlas of English
History” (Longmans, Green & Co.).
As to note books, I believe they are very helpful in teaching English
history; but do not overdo their use. If we insist on their being
very elaborate we make a fetish of them. They have two very simple
uses--(a) to emphasize important matters in each lesson; (b) to contain
any points outside the text-book which the teacher gives the class.
Also their by-products of concentration and accuracy and practice for
college work are by no means to be despised. At the beginning, when
a pupil is possibly taking notes for the first time, we must be very
patient, speaking slowly and practically dictating the things to be
“put down.” As a rule I would not put facts on the board to be copied.
That is too easy. A class must learn to take notes from the voice, and
gradually to catch matters worth setting down without special direction.
Reference Books.
Two very useful books to which constant reference will be made during
the coming months are Beard’s “Introduction to the English Historians”
(MacMillan), and Cheyney’s “Readings in English History” (Ginn &
Co.). Both of these volumes give well-selected quotations from many
sources inaccessible to many of us, and with one or both of them in our
possession we shall be tolerably well equipped for the year’s work.
Then there are two old “standards” which most of us possess or may
easily get at. First of all, in my opinion, is Green’s “Short History
of the English People” (Harper’s one volume edition); and second,
Gardiner’s “Student’s History of England” (Longmans, Green & Co.)
is not only a good one-volume history, but is particularly rich in
pictures of value and interest.
In explaining the missionary efforts of the Irish church, the
fascinating career of St. Patrick should not be neglected. See
“Ireland” in the “Stories of the Nations,” series, by Lawless, Chapter
IV.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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