Drury University - Souwester Yearbook (Springfield, MO)

Page 17 text:

SOUWVESTER NINETEEN TEN a Department of Rhetoric and Public Speaking. EMMANUEL Dao SCHUNBERGER, A.B.. M.O. ' THIS Department realizes that one of the most essential parts of the student's edu- cation is the acquiring of the ability to express himself orally as well as in writing, and that without this power of expression the knowl- edge that he gains will be of little value. The Department is closely afhliated With the others, and its work is essentially college work. Its aim primarily is not to prepa.e students for the platform or the stage, but for life in all its manifold relations, and the courses are arranged with this end in view. Rhetoric and Expression, which are re- quired in the Freshman year, form, as it were, 3 a foundation for the other work of the De- x parlment, and also for all the courses 'in English Literature. The other courses offered are Argumentation, Oratory, Dramatic Reading, Methods of Teaching Public Speaking, and a s'udy of the Poets, in which course the representative works of Browning, Tennyson. and other poets are studied, for the purpose of developing the aesthetic in the s2udent's nature, and of giving him pow- er to feel and express the qualities of beauty and imagination. The high-grade work of this Department is shown in the inter-society debates, the inter-collegiate debates, the State oratorical contest, the Edgell contest, and the College plays. Heretofore the plays have been given by the literary societies, and have compared very favorably with those given by professional companies: but this year the College play will be given by the Class in Dramatic Reading. I5

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SOU'WES'l ER NINETEEN TEN Department of Modern Languages. FREDERICK Aucusrus GRANT COWPER, A.B. NDER the able administration of Pro- fessor Cowper, the Department of Modern Languages is assuming more and more importance. At present the languages offered are French, Spanish, and German, though Italian will be given when there is a demand for it. The aim of the Department, first, is to get the student well grounded in the principles of grammar. This is acdomplished by prose composition, by dictation, and by the read- ing of modern fiction and plays. As much conversation is given as possible. When the student has acquired a good knowledge of N the language, he begins to read the master- pieces of the literature. Four years' work may be had in the French language, two years in the Spanish, and two years in the German language. IfAdvanced German belongs to the Department of History and German.1 Graduate work may now be done in French literature, consisting of the reading of Old French and the study of the philology of the French language. A French Club has been organized, to meet once or twice a month in private homes. Those eligible for membership are Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors in French, grad- uate students of French, and desirable persons in town acquainted with the language. Conversation is to be carried on in French, and there will be practice in giving French songs, poems, and plays. It is believed that such a club will be a great advantage as well as pleasure to students ambitious to leam to speak French. This years plans are being made to give a French play at the end of the year, which will exhibit to some extent the progress of the Department. 14

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SOUWVESTER NINETEEN TEN Department of Psychology and Educalion. WILLIAM ORVILLE ALLEN, A.M.. S.T.B., Ph.D. NE of the more important of the six new departments that have been added to Drury in the last three years is that of Psychology and Education, which was or- ganized as a separate department this year. To care for this Department an additional full chair has been established, and is now held by William Orville Allen. Professor Allen comes to us from Cornell College, Iowa, and is well prepared for the work, having had, in addition to his regular train- ing, a diversified experience as teacher, min- ister, instructor, professor, and lecturer. The aim of the Department is to. produce capable department teachers for high schools and academies and the courses are planned with this in view. Psychology has beenextendecl to a full year: the second semester s work being largely devoted to practical laboratory work. All courses in Education, except History of Education, are new this year, and they give a good grounding in the theory and practice of modem education. . An important feature in the Department is the introduction of experimental mehocls and the establishment of a laboratory. The work is new, and we have only the begin- nings as yetg but it is to be extended until- research work can be offered to Seniors. It is also of interest to notice that a Pedagogical Alcove has been established in the library. and furnished with a goodly number of books. 5 Students completing the required courses will receive on graduation a State Cer- tificate, valid for three years, which can be made a life certificate under easy conditions. Drury's graduate teachers have helped largely in making her reputation, and we are glad to see the establishment of a systematic basis for the placing of her graduates in good positions. Plans have also been made for the placing and promotion of Alumni teacn- ers. With this new department and growing equipment, Drury should he very attractive to those who are ambitious to become high-school teachers. 16