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.
Work of the Associations.
Membership in these associations is almost indispensable to the best work. Not only are the live questions of the classroom discussed, but reports of greater length are presented by special or regular committees; while not the least valuable benefit is that derived from personal association with other workers in the field. The social side of the meeting as found in informal receptions and luncheons is, however, capable of much greater development, especially to the end of reaching the new member.
The three sectional associations have effected an interchange of publications whereby a member of one association receives without additional expense the reports of the other two. Many of the articles and discussions of these associations are of more than local or temporary value. Space does not permit publication of a complete list, but mention should be made of a few: Middle States, 1907, “The Study of History,” Prof. W. M. Sloane; “Methods of Stimulating and Testing the Work of History Students in College,” Prof. Eleanor L. Lord; 1908, “History and Geography,” Rt. Hon. James Bryce; “Correlation of History with Other Subjects,” Sarah C. Brooks and others; North Central Association, 1907, “Influence of the Foreign Population on the Teaching of History and Civics,” Jane Addams and others; “Teaching of American History in Schools and Colleges,” Prof. Edward Channing; “Causes of Immigration During the Period 1830-1850,” Dr. W. V. Pooley; “An Illustration of Research Methods in the Study of English History,” Prof. N. M. Trenholme; 1908, “Results to be Obtained in the College Study of American History,” Prof. W. M. West; “History and Its Neighbors,” Prof. G. L. Burr; “Geography and American History,” Mr. W. H. Campbell and Mr. H. R. Tucker. New England Association, 1907, “The Fall of Rome,” Prof. J. H. Robinson; 1908, “Geography and History,” Prof. G. L. Burr; “Are Modifications in the Report of the Committee of Seven Desirable?” Blanche E. Hazard, chairman.
These associations meet annually in the spring, except the New England, which also meets in October. Information regarding membership, publications, and other details may be obtained from the secretaries: Mr. G. H. Gaston, Wendell Phillips High School, Chicago, Ill. (North Central); Professor Henry Johnson, Columbia University, New York City (Middle States); Mr. W. H. Cushing, South Framingham, Mass. (New England); Mr. H. M. Ivy, Jr., Flora, Miss. (Miss. Association); Professor C. N. Anderson, Kearney, Neb. (President, Nebraska Association).
Recent Meetings.
The eleventh annual meeting of the North Central History Teachers’ Association was held at the Reynolds Club, Chicago, on Friday and Saturday, April 2 And 3, 1909. The Friday afternoon session was opened by Professor Samuel B. Harding, of Indiana University, who read a paper on “Some Concrete Problems in the Teaching of Medieval and Modern History.” The discussion was opened by Professor George C. Sellery, of the University of Wisconsin. In the evening a paper on “The Study of the Present as an Aid in the Interpretation of the Past” was read by Professor Edward A. Ross, of the University of Wisconsin, and discussed by Dean A. W. Small, of the University of Chicago; Professor Paul Shorey, of the University of Chicago, and Dean E. B. Greene, of the University of Illinois. The session of Saturday was devoted to the annual business meeting and to the presentation of the report on the Annual Bibliography and the Report of the Committee of Eight. Professor A. C. McLaughlin, of the University of Chicago, a member of the Committee of Seven, read a paper on “What Changes Should be Made in the Report of the Committee of Seven.”
The April meeting of the New England Association was held in the rooms of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. The subject for consideration was the “Syllabus for the Study of American Civil Government in Secondary Schools.” A special committee of the association has been at work for several years in the preparation of a syllabus, which will be discussed in the next issue of this magazine.