The geographical ideas of Columbus and the development of his pet project have a definite relation to the preliminary lessons on the geographical notions of his time. His errors should be clearly pointed out. In this portion of the presentation, as in most others, a good wall map must be on hand for constant reference.
The futile attempts of Columbus to get the support necessary for his venture need not occupy us long. His experience at the court of Spain, however, and his first voyage will require more elaborate treatment. Here constant reference must be made to the “type-elements,”—particularly in connection with Spanish court life, Spanish motives, the furnishing and manning of the three boats which constituted his fleet.
The subsequent voyages of Columbus may be passed over very rapidly, preferably with very little detail. Similarly his later life and his sad death will call for but passing notice.
This entire narrative portion of our topic is largely handled for us by any of the standard elementary text-books, which, by the way, it is important that our pupils should learn to use. The real teaching, that is to say, the history tracing and idea-building, has been accomplished in connection with the “type-elements.” The rest of the problem in large measure solves itself.
The “type-lesson” on Columbus just outlined will occupy a number of history periods. It is important that it should not be hurried. The old pedagogic maxim that we should make haste slowly applies with peculiar force to the “type-lesson” method. We begin slowly that we may gain time later. More than that, we are furnishing our pupils with a definite stock of fundamental historical notions which will constitute for them a genuine intellectual capital. As they go on with the study of history, they will find that their “type ideas” help to interpret the detailed facts they meet, which facts in turn will tend to re-enforce the “type-ideas.”
Reports from the Historical Field
WALTER H. CUSHING, Editor.
A New Organization.
The history teachers of Colorado are about to organize an association and have appointed a committee, of which Professor James G. Willard is chairman. With so many questions in history teaching still unsettled, we welcome a new organization which by discussion and interchange of views will hasten the solution of these problems. The history teachers in about one-half the States of the Union are now included in organizations, with the American Historical Association as a sort of clearing house.