Associations of History Teachers.
An important result of the increased interest in history teaching produced by the publication of the report of the Committee of Seven was the formation of associations of history teachers. In addition to various local and State groups, three associations, comprising history teachers of different sections of the country, are doing much to raise the standard of teaching in this subject: The North Central History Teachers’ Association, the Association of History Teachers of the Middle States, and the New England History Teachers’ Association. Besides these, there is the Nebraska Association, a branch of the State Teachers’ Association, probably the oldest of the history teachers’ organizations; the Mississippi Association of History Teachers, organized last year as an auxiliary of the Mississippi Historical Society; and the Missouri Society of Teachers of History and Government. In California there is under way a movement to create an association of history teachers, particularly of those engaged in primary and secondary work, and some definite results are expected this fall. In Washington it is proposed to establish a history teachers’ section of the Washington State Teachers’ Association at its next annual session. The Nebraska association, to focus its work more closely, is planning a separate and independent meeting for two days in April.
Of strictly local associations the Boston History Council may be taken as an example. This Council is made up of the heads of departments in the various high schools of Boston, and discusses such questions as changes in text-books, courses of study, fundamental aims and methods. During the past year the question of introducing English history in the first year of the high school has been discussed.