The History Teacher's Magazine, Vol. I, No. 2, October, 1909 — John Shaqi
The History Teacher's Magazine, Vol. I, No. 2, October, 1909Various
History
The History Teacher's Magazine, Vol. I, No. 2, October, 1909
Various
History -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals
All things considered, however, it seems to me indisputable that,
wherever there has been an honest and earnest attempt to make the new
methods successful, a gratifying and very considerable measure of
success has been attained. Broadly speaking, the formal recitation,
based mainly upon the study of a textbook, has been given up. The
history of England is no longer generally studied by the reigns of
sovereigns, nor the history of the United States by presidential
administrations. There is wide use of source books and documents,
and much intelligent reading in narrative histories, biographies,
journals, letters, travels, and other literature. Map-drawing is
extensively required, and illustrated lectures or talks and historical
excursions have been made to contribute their wealth of information
and interest. From every point of view, the position of history in the
school curriculum is more dignified and rational than it used to be,
its pedagogical method more intelligent, its fruition in knowledge and
power more valuable.
No method of teaching, however, is ever so bad that its abandonment is
not attended with some loss to the pupil. In spite of all the success
which has undeniably come about in these ten years of thoughtful and
friendly effort, there still remain a number of steps imperatively
to be taken before the teaching of history in secondary schools can,
without serious qualification, be pronounced satisfactory. There is
still a woeful need of trained history teachers. While the larger city
high schools and many private schools are praiseworthy exceptions,
it nevertheless remains true that the majority of schools do not yet
think it necessary to choose for the historical department a teacher
specially trained for that work. The subject is still too often
assigned to this teacher or that who happens to have the necessary
free time, but whose serious equipment lies in some other field.
Nothing short of sound and extended college training in history should
be deemed a sufficient preparation for the teaching of history in a
secondary school, just as nothing short of such training, and the frank
recognition of its importance by school authorities, will overcome the
unfortunate reluctance of the best college graduates to enter secondary
school work. No graduate of Brown University can receive from the
department of history a certificate of fitness to teach history in
a high school or academy who has not completed with credit at least
four courses, each of three hours a week for a year, and one of them a
course of research; and I should be glad did conditions in the schools
make it possible to raise, as they do make it increasingly easy to
enforce this minimum requirement.
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