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
When it is remembered that no preliminary science is required for
admission to the Normal Schools, and that many of the entering students
have not done any work in the subject at all, it seems impossible that
any very thorough knowledge can be secured in a course of five, ten,
or even thirteen weeks. It may be possible for the student to obtain
and verify a few scientific facts during a short course such as this;
but there is no time or opportunity to realize the extent or bearing of
the subject in hand, or to study it adequately in a scientific way. To
allow a beginner to feel he has completed a course in geology, botany,
or any other science in thirteen weeks is to encourage superficiality,
to arouse in him a feeling of satisfaction and attainment, and surely
nothing can be more opposed to the true spirit of science. In the New
Britain School, physics is carried through fifty-three of the eighty
weeks in the Two Years’ Course; and this seems a good plan, even if,
during some part of the time, only two or three hours a week can be
given to it. When one science, or possibly two, are chiefly taken up,
and others considered merely accessory to the main subject of study, a
more adequate knowledge of science and scientific method can be gained,
especially if the sciences taken up are such as botany, and physics,
which illustrate respectively different methods of scientific research.
It may be maintained that the Normal School students must be prepared
for their future work in the Primary and Grammar Schools, in most of
which the elements of several sciences are taught. This, of course,
must be remembered. Nevertheless, the attitude of mind developed by the
thorough study of one science is the best possible preparation for the
safe study of the elements of others, while a superficial study of the
elements of many sciences is fatal to the proper estimation of facts in
any one of them.
PROFESSIONAL WORK.
The purely professional work of the Normal State Schools consists of:
(_a_) Instruction in the theory of education and its application.
(_b_) Actual practice in teaching, under the guidance of experienced
teachers.
(_c_) Theory of education.