PACIFIC COAST BRANCH.
The Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association held its annual meeting at Stanford University, November 19-20. The afternoon session of Saturday, the 20th, was devoted to History in the Secondary Schools, the topic being “Ancient History in the First Year of the High School.” A very practical paper was read by W. C. Westergaard, of the Alameda High School, on the subject, “Points of Contact between Ancient History and the Present.”
The discussion that followed brought out several points. Ancient History has been the object of attack by several critics of the high schools, and if it is to retain its place it must justify itself. It is the weak point in our secondary history work, chiefly for two reasons: 1. It is the most remote of the four “fields,” and yet is put before beginners, whose mental power is undeveloped. 2. It is usually placed in charge of less experienced teachers than are the other courses. The method set forth in the essay is well calculated to overcome the first of these conditions. Children enjoy discussing historical “problems” of a simple sort: e. g., the conduct of the Romans after Caudine Forks; the wisdom of Cæsar’s clemency. Anything that will make the men of the past real is useful; value of letters (Pliny’s, etc.).
After the discussion was closed, the election of officers resulted in the choice of Professor E. D. Adams, Stanford University, president; Prof. J. N. Bowman, University of California, secretary-treasurer.
H. W. E.