The training of teachers in the United States of America
John Stuart Mill · en
The courses are open to women as well as to men, and the same
facilities for work are extended to these students as to the regular
students of the university. The amount of work implied in these courses
is so great that students are advised to confine their attention to
one or two subjects. Every opportunity will be given for original
research under the guidance and with the assistance of members of the
instructing corps.”
In 1892 a summer course in Psychology and Pedagogy was held for
two weeks at the Clark University. All the resources of the
University--books, apparatus, etc.--were placed at the disposal of the
students. About seventy men and women attended. Other universities
arrange for similar courses, but these two suffice to indicate the
lines of work.
The Prang system, which aims at the complete organization of Form
Study, Drawing and Colour teaching in the schools, demands also the
training of its teachers. The system is being introduced into an
ever-increasing number of schools, and necessitates some preparation
on the part of the teacher in order that its principles shall be
rightly understood and effectively carried out. This preparation is
being carried on by correspondence. The courses of study are definitely
arranged, and the student chooses the one she desires. The text-books
and materials are sent to her; she works lessons at home, and
forwards to the instructors the results of such work--clay modelling,
paper-folding, drawing, etc., written observation exercises describing
the appearance of models placed in prescribed positions, written
outlines for various class exercises, together with any questions she
desires to ask. This work is examined and returned to the student with
full criticisms. At the end of the course a certificate is awarded to
those who have successfully completed it. This plan of training appears
to answer well, and will ensure the success of the system.
MILLICENT HUGHES.
Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] This is, of course, not the ordinary deaf-and-dumb language,--for
which sight would be required,--but a special variety in which the
thoughts of the speaker are conveyed by means of varying pressure on
different parts of the hand of the one spoken to.
[2] The term “Commencement” is always used in America to indicate the
ceremony which takes place at the _end_ of a School or College course.
The idea appears to be that the close of the College career really
marks the beginning of life in the world.
[3] The word “_recitation_” is always used in the United States to
signify lesson, class or lecture. Its use in this extended sense may
be explained by the fact that in early days of American education (and
the practice still survives to a greater extent than is desirable)
_teaching_ a class merely implied the hearing of lessons learnt by
heart from a text-book.