University of Wisconsin Stout - Tower Yearbook (Menomonie, WI)

Page 24 text:

»a« Pri shunt Rlkton L Nt-LSOS The Professionalizine of Teaching Any college administration is gratified when there is evident on the part of the student group a spirit of loyalty and good will toward the in- stitution. That attitude of mind is largely due to college associations and experiences. But the background, the history of the school, has its influence too; and to that I desire at this time to direct the thought not only of the class of 1929, to whom we are saying adieu, but to those who remain with us during the next two or three years. Menomonic was the first city in the United States in which organized and systematic instruc- tion was provided in all grades of public schools through the high school. The Stout Institute A ..is the first teachers college to restrict its ac- tivities to the training of teachers of home eco- nomics and industrial education. In this respect it has made a definite contribution toward ele- vating the work of the teacher to the level of a profession. The making of the business of leaching into a profession has been a long, tedious struggle and we are still far from the desired goal. When we refer to the profession of teaching we are by inference misrepresenting the fact. Law, medicine, and the ministry are recognized as professions. No matter how poor the lawyer may be or how unsuccessful the doctor may be he belongs to a pro- fession. There are many reasons why teaching has not yet attained the high rank to which it is entitled. Lawyers are trained in schools of law. ministers are educated in divinity schools, and doctors in medical sc hools. From four to seven years of serious application to study of the field in which they are expected to work is required of them. In every quarter of every year thru that long period emphasis is placed upon the one line of study and research with which the candidate began. That is not true with teaching. Thru all these years teachers have been trained anywhere and everywhere. Today the situation is not much improved. Teachers still come from high schools and colleges of letters and science where much attention is given to languages and literature and very little to the child or the science of educating him. In these colleges the preparation of teachers is incidental. The only hope for better things lies with the teachers colleges which have declared their independence ot the old-time university standards. Even those colleges will not do much toward the establishment of a profession until they, too, begin to specialize and prepare teachers for particular fields. Teaching will not generally be referred to as a profession until the teachers col- leges arc recognized as the proper agencies for training teachers; nor until these colleges offer more specialized courses and experiences to particular groups of students preparing for specific departments in the teaching field. The Stout Institute stands as a pioneer in this field of specialization. When other teachers colleges follow the lead of the Stout Institute, and not till then, will teaching be dignified by universal recognition as a profession. y

Page 23 text:

5 £ 5)p)

Page 25 text:

Clyde A. Bowm in Dean. School of Industrial Education Rctii Mi MM I s Dean, School of Home Economic! Hilda Bam ruo Physical Training Clara Boughton Home Economics Education Walter B. Davison Social Sciences Arthur G. Brown Lducation Lovni Buchanan Foods Lillian Carson Related Art GtRTRUOF i Ml MI N English Literature M. Winnona Cruise Nutrition 192 Page ti