New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-10
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
NEWS OF THE COLLEGES AND UNIvER-
SITIES-NOTES OF INTEREST.
TEACHERS COLLEGE OF COLUMBIA UNI
vERsITYe'THE RECORD" DEVOTED TO
PRACTICAL PROBLEMS.

Close observers Of the remarkable progress that
is being made in the ideals and requirements OF the
professional training of teachers have been fol-
lowing with keen interest the career or Ieachers
College OF Columbia University Under the name
of college for the Training OF Teachers" 1t began
its work in the fall Of 1887 one of the two de-
partments of the Industrial Education Associa-
tion the other branch OF the work OF the assocla-
ton being concerned with the creation or puOnc
interest In manual training an inteHectual ols-
cipline. 1t was incorporated by the Regents as
Teachers College in 1885, it became affiliated with
Columbia Barnard in 1893, and finally on
March %. 1885, 1t was made a part or the educa-
tonaI system of Columbia University. becoming
Its professional school for the study or eoucatloh
and the training Of teachers. AS such It takes CO.
ordinate rank with the schools OF law, medicine
and applied science.
Now that the college has taken it's place in uni
versity system Its scope includes not simply such
purely professional subjects the theoretical and
practical training of teachers of elementary and
secondary schools, OF specialists Of principals ana
superintendent but also the broader field OF the IN
yes of educational foundations the interpret
alton of educational ideals. the invention or edn-
cational methods and the application OF educa-
tional prncipes At least these are the tasks 10
be accomplished by the school as they are OUT
lined by DR.. James Z. Russell. dean OF the col
lege IN the opening number of THE Teachers Col
lege Record" recently published. The sup-tiue Oh
this new publication described It as "a journal
devoted to the practical problems OF elementary
and secondary education and the proressiohai
training of teachers" Each number. ACCORDING
to the announcement, will treat of a specnc proo-
lem in the work Of the kindergarten elementary
school high school or some department OF Ieach-
ers College The experience of the college, TO the
extent that il a typical professional school lol
teachers should be valuable not only TO us own
students and graduates but also to others engaged
in similar work. rr
In the opening paper by DR.. Russen on ne ne
Function of the University in the framing vi
Teachers he makes a strong plea FOR tne Claims
of education to university recognition. ne sN''
due credit to the normal schools as having tur-
nished the strongest teachers to the pubic schoois
In the case Of elementary school teachers economic
conditions have set the extreme limit Oh aca-
demic training the completion Of high schooi
course of study. Conversely. economic laws nave
also determined that teachers whose framing is
thus limited cannot hope to be leaders in education
the higher places in the profession ana JUST
as it is necessary have West Point for the sys-
tematfc training OF competent leaders in the Army,
so the training II the leaders in educaSlon, must
properly the function OF the university The Teach
College is not normal school' S 80
1t ranks as professional school for teachers, and
ton has become so keen that the holder of the
baccalaureate degree is finding IT more and more
teacher In a secondary school to have taken post
wGFk and 9S The
of this competition according TO Dr. Russell Is the
IS preeisey this s condition of aars which makes
possible for the first time in America serious
consideration of ideal methods of training leaders.
For the ideal Of such feaehers r
nently desired: General culture, professional know-
edge, special knowledge and skill in teaching; As
requirements In general culture he adopts those
laid down in the report Of the Committee of Fifteen
Elementary Education, which recommended that
Teachers of elementary schools should have
secondary high school education and that teach
of high schools should have collegiate edu-
cation" Under professional knowledge he groups
that of the psychology of the adolescent period
and the nature of man social being, the his
tory of education and such technical subjects
school economy. school hygiene and the organiza-
ton. supervision and management of schools. With
out special knowledge of the subject be taught
the teacher becomes slave to the text book. and
his work degenerates into a formal routine
without life, spirit educatiye power. One may
possess the qualifications of general culture, spe-
cial and professional knowledge and still lack the
technical skill necessary TO make him successful
teacher. The remainder of Dr. Russells second
paper in The Teachers College Record is taken
up with showing how the courses OF study and the
resources Of the Teachers College will help TO de-
velop in the intending teacher these four essential