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
The tendency to bookishness and slavery to word-forms, which may seem
to be encouraged by the recitation method of teaching science in the
Normal Schools, is opposed by a greater tendency to emphasize the
concrete, to refer in all science teaching directly to the objects
themselves, to use laboratory methods wherever possible. Observation
and experiment are essentially the methods of many of the American
science teachers, and no pains are spared to illustrate all facts and
principles by an appeal to the senses. As a result, much of the science
teaching is excellent. On the other hand, there seems a possible danger
of pursuing these excellent methods too far, of appealing to the senses
alone, at stages of development in the child when reason and reflection
might be appealed to and trusted, and of generally emphasizing the
value of observation at the expense of neglecting the reflective
faculties. In the excellent _Outlines of Laboratory Work_, used by
some of the Normal Schools, the danger is to some degree recognised by
_Questions for Thought and Reference_ being placed at the end of each
lesson-scheme. Assuming, however, that the questions are followed out
carefully by the students, it may still be doubted whether this is the
best method of arousing thought.
Another feature of the science teaching in the Normal Schools is the
taking up of many branches of science. Chemistry, physics, astronomy,
geology, mineralogy, zoology, botany, physiology, are studied by all.
In order that students may be able to take up all these, the plan
usually adopted is to concentrate attention on one science for a short
time, and then to pass on to other sciences, until five or six have
been taken. It is seldom that even one branch of science is allowed
to run through a whole course of two years. The division of science
studies for the Normal School at New Britain, Connecticut, where the
science work is most carefully done, will illustrate this point.
_First Year_:
Chemistry 5 recitations a week for 13 weeks.
Physiology 5 ” ” ” 13 ”
Physics 4 ” ” ” 40 ”
Physical } 4 ” ” ” 4 ”
Geography }
_Second Year_:
Physics 4 recitations a week for 13 weeks.
Botany 5 ” ” ” 10 ”
Geology 4 ” ” ” 5 ”
Biology & } 4 ” ” ” 10 ”
Zoology }