The training of teachers in the United States of America — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The training of teachers in the United States of America
John Stuart Mill · en
“It is a natural function of the University, as the head of our system
of public instruction, to supply the demand made upon it for furnishing
the larger public schools with superintendents, principals, and
assistants. Year by year these important positions are falling more
and more into the hands of men that have received their education in
the University. Till recently the training given to our graduates has
been almost purely literary; it has lacked the professional character
that alone gives special fitness for the successful management of
schools and school systems. Now, however, the University offers
students that wish to become teachers ample facilities for professional
study.
“2. To promote the study of educational science.
“The establishment of a chair of teaching is a recognition of the truth
that the art of education has its correlative science; and that the
processes of the school-room can become rational only by developing
and teaching the principles that underlie these processes. Systems of
public instruction are everywhere on trial, and the final criteria by
which they are to stand or fall must be found in a philosophical study
of the educating art.
“3. To teach the history of education, and of educational systems and
doctrines.
“The supreme right of the school is to grow; and much hurtful
interference might be avoided by ascertaining the direction of
educational progress and the history of educational thought.
“4. To secure to teaching the rights, prerogatives, and advantages of a
profession.
“5. To give a more perfect unity to our State educational system
by bringing the secondary schools into closer relations with the
University.”
The Teacher’s diploma is given to a student at the time of receiving a
Bachelor’s degree, provided he has completed three Courses of study
offered by the professor of the Science and Art of Teaching, viz.,
Courses 1 and 2, and one of Courses 3, 5, 4, 6, or 7, and, also, at
least one of the Teachers’ Courses offered by other professors, and by
special examination has shown such marked proficiency in the Course
chosen as qualifies him to give instruction in the same. The diploma is
also given to a graduate student at the time of receiving a Master’s
or a Doctor’s degree, provided he has pursued teaching as a major or
a minor study, and has also taken a Teacher’s Course in some other
department.
By authority of an Act of the State legislature, passed in 1891, the
Faculty of this Department give a Teacher’s Certificate to any person
who takes a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctor’s degree, and also receives
a Teacher’s diploma as provided above. By the terms of the Act, the
certificate given by the Faculty “shall serve as a legal certificate
of qualification to teach in any of the schools of this State, when a
copy thereof shall have been filed or recorded in the office of the
legal examining officer or officers of the county township, city, or
district.”