The San Francisco call., 1905-01-03
Will Petition

BERKELEY, Jan 2.-ProfeSSor =.
E. Brown, head of the department or
education of the University Of Califor-
mia, received news to-day that a project
most dear to him--the establishment of
a school on the university campus
. where students of his department
might receive actual practice and
training as teachers-had been formal
.ly presented to Governor Pardee by
President Wheeler and a committee OF
Regents.
Professor Brown said that the recon-
mendations made by President Wheel
err were, supposedly, part OF the
result of communications sent by him
to- the president on December 26 in con-
nection with this subject. He had been
invited by President Wheeler to put in
writing the idea he desired to have
presented to the Legislature In con-
nection with the matter, and to-day
gave out for publication copies of this
letter to the president.
1t is the wish of Professor Brown
that $4,000 be appropriated for build
ing where pupils may attend school
and be taught by students of his de-
partment. His letter to president
Wheeler is as follows:
After mature consideration the following rec
concentrations with reference to provision for
fully presented by the corps Of instruction OF
the department of education.
northwest corner OF the present university
grounds rectangular in shape, approximately
400 feet on Hearst avenue by 800 feet on Ok
ford street, for a term OF ten or Twelve years:
for the use of a school under the direction of
the department of education.
That the Legislature be asked to appropriate
az the coming session the sum of $4,000 for
the erection and equipment Of wooden build
ing this piece of land for the use of the
school,
That the current cost of maintaining the
school be betrayed from the general funds OF
the university tuition to be free
1t is estimated that the current expense OF
the school for the first year. 1866, five school
pupils in each room will be $4,000 With the
addition of other rooms, about one new room
being added each year, this expense may
the end of which time the school, twelve
grades and kindergarten. may be expected to
be complete
In response to your request beg leave to
submit the following statement of the principal
grounds on which the department OF educa-
tion urges the establishment at this time of
school OF observation, practice and experiment
tatfon. The reasons are twotold, depending
work in which We engaged. and secondly,
on the actual present situation in California.
IMPORTANCE OF IDEA.
Education finds its place in our university
.. scheme art applied science and as
profession Practice teaching enters into any
adequate preparation for education as an art,
in much the same way that a course in free
hand drawing enters into the preparation Of
tine future painter. AS an applied science,
close analogy holds between education and
agriculture, education requiring its school Of
observation and experimentation somewhat as
agriculture requires its botanical and chemical
laboratories and its experiment stations. AS
profession education requires its school Of
practice and observation very much medi-
cine has its hospital and its clinics. Accord
ingly we find the movement toward the estab-
facilities for practice teaching approved and
promoted in some of our strongest universi-
ties. notably in Harvard. Columbia. Chicago
and Missouri
The consideration which would respectfully
emphasize at this point is that the higher prep
aration of teachers cannot permanently main
tain real university standing without ade-
Quate provision for such concreteness and OBJ
jectivity of treatment and such training to
expert efficiency as is found in other univer-
sity departments.
The view set forth above has influenced the
work of our department OF education since
its establishment in 1892 By arrangement
with the school authorities Of Berkeley and
Oakland some inadequate provision for obser-
Walton. experiment and practice has been made
from the beginning. which was partially con-
centrated in the Tompkins School in Oak
land from 1895 to 1899. and in other schools
was organized and conducted with great care
by Mr. Heaton from 1897 onward. This pro-
Vision has proved very useful, but at best
il has been wholly insufficient In addition
to deficiencies in other directions it has failed
Tor the most part to offer opportunities for
teaehing in high schools. And positive oppo-
sition to the arrangement has appeared in the
Berkeley Board OF EDUCATION during the past
year. We have accordingly for long time
looked forward to the establishment of a
university school and the maintenance of such
school was included among the recommenda-
tons relative to teachers college, which
laid before you in the fall of 1902 The ap-
pointment of DIR. Harrington to assistant
professorship in the university recon-
mended last spring with the view particularly
to having him devote the year 1904-05 to the
working out of this problem of practice teach
ing. purpose which he is now carrying into
effect.
PRACTICE NEEDED.
In recent years there has grown up a very
urgent demand on the part of school author
tiles in this State that university trained
teachers should. be trained in the actual pro-
cesses of teaching This demand has been
put forward in many ways. of which the two
following typical examples: First, a rule
of the Oakland Board of Education that in.
experienced graduates of the universities shall
Oakland unless they shall have completed sue
cessfully course of practice teaching under
proper pedagogical supervision: second, rule
OF the State Board of Education requiring
such practice teaching of university graduates
. who are candidates for the high school teach
ers' certificate. We accordingly face this pros
pect that before long inexperienced graduates
of the university will be unable to find en-
the State even to secure the teachers GER
. tifcate without such practical training. 1t
is possible that the university might secure a
reversal of some of these rules by forcing the
issue but that could be accomplished only by
a sharp contest in which the university would
be on the wrong side.
There is a larger need which seems equally
dependent on the establishment of university
school. The university ought to send out
specially prepared and competent superintend-
ents and principals OF public schools and in
structors In normal schools in this State and
Pacific and mountain States generally. The