The History Teacher's Magazine, Vol. I, No. 4, December, 1909Various
History
The History Teacher's Magazine, Vol. I, No. 4, December, 1909
Various
History -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals
Combined Source Book of the Renaissance. M. WHITCOMB $1.50
State Documents on Federal Relations. H. V. AMES $1.75
Published by Department of History, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, and by Longmans, Green & Co.
Correspondence
EDITOR HISTORY TEACHERS’ MAGAZINE.
Let me express the pleasure which at least one California teacher
finds in the new HISTORY TEACHERS’ MAGAZINE. It certainly satisfies a
long-felt need. In the October number I noticed the repeated statements
of the lack of organization in history work, all of which is lamentably
true; but I do believe we are improving here, due to the persistent
and intelligent efforts of a wise and enthusiastic History Department
in the University of California. Our school authorities are demanding
trained history teachers, even though they have to handle some other
subject.
Miss Elizabeth Briggs’s remarks regarding the weakness in geography
and biography are, alas, the instructors’ fault, and I am sending
you a couple of suggestions that I have found valuable in those
lines, in case you have opportunity or inclination to pass them on.
I have found that pupils become interested in these two “eyes of
history.” They usually have a hazy memory of seemingly endless drill
in grammar school, and consider geography as one of those childish
things which they have put away, but when their attention is called to
the geographical causes for location of cities, its influence on the
development of a country, plans of campaigns, strategic boundaries,
they grow interested, and enjoy indicating these things, as well as
treaties and territorial growth on outline maps. I use a McKinley
wall map for Roman history, and we “paint it red” as we progress in
the study of the Roman conquests. The members of the class become
enthusiastic, and are able to appreciate the growth of the great
empire, with its military roads and administrative system.
Miss Mary North’s Ancient History Social reminded me of something that
I have found good for arousing a class, and aiding in the biographical
work,--the old-fashioned game of “Who Am I?” We send a pupil from the
room, and the class chooses some person whom he is to represent. Then
he is re-called, and from my seat behind the desk begins to quiz the
class, up and down the rows, asking questions that must be answered by
“Yes” or “No.” Sometimes they have to appeal to me for information, or
consult books, but in the end they know considerably more than when
they began. When given warning of the exercise, they study well. They
enjoy it, and ever after seem to feel a personal friendship for the
characters we have studied in this fashion. They develop quickly a
wonderful capacity for finding leading questions.
Occasionally I try another scheme,--charades. This gives a wider range,
as it may include places, persons, or events. Each pupil must be ready
to explain the importance of that place, person, or events which he
presents.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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