Courses and methods : A handbook for teachers of primary, grammar, and ungraded schools

Preface

rriHIS book is not intended to be an exhaustive or philosophical treatise upon Education ; nor does the author claim for the ideas advanced in it much that is new or original. It is written in response to a frequently expressed desire in various quarters for a brief plan of studies that may be pursued in elementary schools, and for a simple and direct statement of good methods of organization, teaching, and discipline. While the hints and suggestions are directed mainly to untrained and inexperienced teachers, it is hoped that they may commend themselves to the judgment of the best teachers, as being based upon correct principles of teaching.

A Course of Studies may be so general as to be of little direct use, or so definite as to apply to few schools. It has been the aim in preparing the courses here presented to avoid both extremes, with the understanding that they may be modified to suit existing conditions. The best Course that can be made is simply a guide for the teacher in pointing out wha^ subjects are to be taught, the order in which subjects and parts of subjects are to be presented, and the approximate amount "^o be done in a given time. The best use of such a Course will be determined not so much by the rigidity with which it is followed as

IV PREFACE.

b}^ the way it is interpreted and applied to the wants of tlie pupils. In other words, the subjects of study are of less consequence than the way in which they are taught. It is for this reason that comparatively little space has been given to the course or plan of studies and much to methods of teaching.

Nearly all of the topical outlines presented in Part 11. have been tried in the schoolroom and found to be practical and helpful. A few of them were taken in the first instance from professional books and periodicals, with no thought of republication, and therefore their authorship was not preserved. So far as the authors are known, due credit has been given.

It should be said that while the suggestions given in Parts II. and III. are meant to apply to any Course of studies, the Course as here outlined should not be used alone. The bare outline of subjects as given in Part I. would be likely to be misunderstood and misapplied without the explanations given in Part II.

Teachers of each grade should familiarize themselves

with the requirements and methods of all other grades, so

as to know what has been, or what should have been,

previously done, and also to know the kind of work for

which they are to prepare their pupils.

J. T. P.

Waltham, Mass., Nov. 1, 1886.

Contents

I. COURSES OF STUDY.

PAGE

1. Course for Graded Schools 1