THE TEACHING OF GOVERNMENT AND CIVICS

REPORT TO THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION

Several years ago the American Political Science Association appointed a committee to investigate and report on the teaching of government in schools and colleges and to offer suggestions for the improvement of such instruction. This committee has been at work for more than four years gathering data from all grades of schools and from every section of the country. The information collected by the committee has finally been put into form and has been published by the Macmillan Company, New York City.

The volume deals with the efforts to improve the teaching of government in the schools by such organizations as the American Historical Association, the National Municipal League, the American Political Science Association, as well as the assistance rendered by the Bureau of Education, and the various committees of the National Education Association. Suggestive methods, material and devices are offered, and some tentative programs for courses of study are included for elementary schools, and for secondary schools. A fairly exhaustive bibliography on the methods of teaching government has been prepared by the committee and a suggestive list of works for reference and library material for the use of teachers. The volume also includes a very thorough analysis of the courses offered in political science in colleges and universities along with some suggestions and recommendations for improvement. The report constitutes a notable contribution to the teaching of one of the most important subjects in the public and private schools of the United States. In the preparation of the volume the committee aims to offer some suggestions for the improvement of instruction beginning with the grades and continuing to the courses in colleges and universities. While the recommendations and suggestions of the committee are largely tentative and experimental, it is hoped that some assistance may be rendered to those who are genuinely

interested in improving the teaching of government in the schools.

For further information as to the report write to Professor Charles Grove Haines, chairman of the committee on instruction, University of Texas, Austin.

PROGRAM FOR HISTORY SECTION

The program of the history teachers' section of the State Teachers' Association for the annual meeting to be held in Fort Worth, Friday, December 1, is as follows:

1. What should history mean to the high school teacher? Professor E. C. Barker, chairman of school of history, University of Texas.

2. What results should the history teacher obtain? Dr. C. C. Pearson, Houston High School.

3. How can the results of history teaching be best tested? S. E. Frost, Fort Worth High School; E. D. Criddle, North Texas Normal; Supt. W. B. Ferguson, Wolfe City.