The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-03-30

Timely Word to Student-teachers The
Classroom VS. Correspondence Work.
During the past few weeks repre-
sentative of well-known college, and
one who is, by the way, an old friend
of the writer, has been vigorously can
vassing Crawford county for mem bers
OF Correspondence Course. which is
department of the college work
The writer is not opposed to CORES
pondence courses; indeed. they have
distinct field of usefulness, and are
particularly useful to persons who have
had some advanced training and desire
while at work to do home study to fit
themselves for regular college work or
for promotion. There are many who
can advantageously take up such work.
But let me say right here to any young
person preparing for teaching. for en-
gineering or for commercial life, it
will pay you, far better, to take the
school. especially if you are lacking in
the elementary branches. You cannot
afford to miss the very superior bene-
fits OF the classroom, coming into COM
petltive as we'll as sympathetic rela-
tionship with other minds, and having
the immediate and quickening irfiu-
ences of fellow-students and teachers.
You cannot do bv correspondence
what you can do by running up
against" fellow-students and teachers
In the classroom
A well-known educator illustrated
this very nicely to me the other day
when he said, Zone of my old college
professors used to say that e student
who tries to struggle through his stud.
les by himself is like lone wood-chop.
per who thinks himself fine chopper
till he comes to where he is compared
with others when he finds he is very
inferior" He did not know what good
work was.
Competition, the creation of a class
room, where the demonstration of
problems, the elucidation of truths and
the practice of principles sharpens the
wits. quickens the impulses aud better
fi:s the student for the practical things
OF flife-competition, l say, is not known
in Correspondence work. The COM
petition is the impetus to better things.
There are students and young teach
ers-and sorue not SO young-who could
do no better than attend the Denison
Normal and Commercial College. Den
ison business men have expended q
large sum to establish this school for
Crawford and neighboring counties. A
six weeks summer term at this school
or other schools would do more good
than sixteen weeks home study. Be.
sides you are free from vexations and
cares, and consequently in better
heal6h and spirits; and, moreover, you
possess more capital stock of brain
power and real usefulness at it's close
than after long. tedious 'sCorrespon-
dence Course" good as that course
may be.
| do not want you, who may read
this. to takesit as wornout, harped
cant when say that if could live nv
life over again, would not teach much
before getting good. complete college
classroom training. 1t pays the best
dividends. There is less danger of
such training being superficial.
The Correspondence Course above
referred to | personally know to be a
good one and has place to fill. and,
though it may be considered supple
mentary is not comparable to class.
room training. Any good professional
or commercial man will attest this.
Ifvou are one who has become rusty, >
so to speak, on some things; if you
wish, while at your work to review
what you may not have thoroughly
mastered: or if there is some special
work in which you desire to better
inform yourself; or If you desire to tit
yourself to take up special work at
some col eye or summer school, the
Correspondence course is quite a help.
But, on the other hand, if you are
teaching or trying to teach your first
few terms, if you hold a low-grude eer-
tificate, either third or low-marked
second-class, take advice from one Of
experience aud do good classroom
work at good school rather than try d
correspondence course.
Very sincerely
ALBERT HEALY.