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 pedagogical courses connected with the Universities of the United
States differ so much in organization and scope, and in the nature of
their connection with the University, that it is impossible to consider
them under one comprehensive title, unless the exact meaning of the
term “University Department” be defined. In the present case, the title
“University Department of Pedagogy” is used to include all higher
courses of study in philosophy, psychology, history, science or art of
education established by Universities or Colleges of high standing, in
definite recognition of the fact that the work of secondary teaching
requires distinct and special professional or technical preparation,
beyond a sound general education. Such instruction may be given in
connection with Chairs of Pedagogy by series of lectures on science and
art of teaching, theory and practice of teaching, etc., or it may be so
complete as to constitute a school of pedagogy in itself, thoroughly
organized and equipped to carry out professional training in all its
branches. Pedagogical study may be a so-called “elective”--viz., one
of the subjects chosen by the student to count towards his degree, or
it may be a course for post-graduates only. It may consist merely of
courses in special pedagogy or “methods,” by the various professors
of different subjects in a University, or it may be chiefly the study
of education from a scientific standpoint, as in Clark University,
Massachusetts, where experimental and physiological psychology is
pursued, not with the view of meeting the needs of intending teachers,
but of offering opportunities of thorough study to scientific experts,
whose results may be of great value to education in general. The
number of Universities or Colleges in the United States which report
pedagogical courses of some kind is 114. In many of these, however,
the work is mostly of the Normal School type, with a view to prepare
for teaching in the Grammar Schools of the State, and the certificate
of proficiency given on completion of the course is not such as to
entitle the work to be called “Higher Instruction in the Theory and Art
of Teaching.” Leaving such departments out of consideration, as not
belonging to the field of higher education, the departments of pedagogy
in connection with Universities may, for convenience, be considered
under two heads:
1. Those in connection with State Universities.
2. Those connected with other endowed Universities or Colleges of high
standing.
DEPARTMENTS OF STATE UNIVERSITIES.