principles, directions, and working models for the practical guidance of the rank and file in the great army of common-school teachers. In the statement of general principles in education, I have quoted from the thinkers and writers of the present rather than the past, in order fairly to present advanced ideas, and to give the young teacher occasional glimpses of a modern educational literature outside of mere handbooks and text-books. The practical directions, drawn largely from the common stock of school methods, are substantiated by opinions quoted from eminent living American teachers and superintendents. The working models are made up of exercises that were prepared for use, and were actually used for several years, in a large public school. The whole book, indeed, owes its existence to the practical needs of a normal class-room. Personal experience in teaching is a good school, but a slow and costly one. Looking back over a varied experience of thirty years, I deeply realize how great would have been my vantage-ground had I begun with a more thorough professional training and a wider acquaintance with educational literature. If I have failed to seize upon essentials, the failure is not from lack of opportunity to observe the need of them. In a new state, I have taken a part in the organization of a school system almost from the beginning. My personal experience includes actual teaching in country, city, ungraded, half-graded, graded, evening, primary, grammar, high, and normal schools, and several years' service in state and city superintendence. Though not so good as I would like to make it, this book is submitted with the hope that it may save some beginners from wasting time and efforts in unprofitable empirical experiments, and that some veteran teachers may find in it a confirmation of principles and methods arrived at in the course of their own life-work. For criticisms and suggestions I am under special obligations to Professor George W. Minns, of Concord, Mass., and to John Muir, of California. J. S. |