The Teaching of HistoryHartwell, E. C. (Ernest Clark)
History
The Teaching of History
Hartwell, E. C. (Ernest Clark)
History -- Study and teaching
Review for the purpose of securing fluency is a consideration frequently
lost sight of by high school history teachers. It may be too sanguine to
expect fluency of the average student reciting on a topic for the first
time. But when it is considered how very many important questions are
never recited on but once, the wisdom of an occasional review to secure
rapid, fluent, and complete answers to topics previously discussed is
readily seen. Select a list of topics that will at one and the same time
cultivate fluency and strengthen the memory for the important
considerations of history. Fluency in itself does not possess sufficient
value to justify the expenditure of recitation time. Facility of
expression needs to be cultivated in discussion of the conclusions
reached in class which need to be clinched in the student's mind. Such
questions as the following will serve as illustrations of the kind
adaptable for such purpose, at the middle of a year course in American
history:--
1. Give three distinct characteristics of French colonization in
America; three of Spanish; three of English.
2. What things did the English colonies possess in common?
3. What were the results to the colonies of the French and Indian
War?
4. To what extent was the Revolution brought about by economic
causes?
5. What were the defects in the Articles of Confederation?
6. Account for the downfall of the Federalist party.
7. In what ways has democracy advanced since 1789?
8. What were the results of the struggle over the admission of
Missouri?
9. Discuss the growth of the sentiment for internal improvements?
10. Describe the social life of the Western pioneer?
_What the student may do with "problems" in history_
Still another kind of review of great value in strengthening the
student's ability to generalize and analyze, consists of what might be
called "problems in history." They are given out in much the same way as
original problems in geometry, assuming that the student is acquainted
with the facts from which to deduce the answers to the question. The
object of such a review is to give the student practice in original
thinking. He is not supposed to use a library, but only the facts which
are in his text or which have been previously brought out in class
recitations.
The following are examples of questions adaptable for this purpose:--
1. Why can the American people be regarded as the world's greatest
colonizers?
2. Why could Washington be regarded as only an Englishman living in
America?
3. Is it true that the South lost the Civil War because of slavery?
4. In what particulars did Andrew Jackson accurately reflect the
spirit or the ideals of the new West?
5. What is illustrated by the attempt to found the State of
Franklin?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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