Learning to Be a Schoolmaster

Thomas Raymond ColeProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.5

Word count: 72K words
Chapters: 8

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Learning to Be a Schoolmaster by Thomas R. ColeAuthor: Cole, Thomas R. (Thomas Raymond), 1881-1970,Language: English, Class: LB: Education: Theory and practice of education, Release Date: May 24, 2014

Editor's review

This book explores "how to become a schoolmaster." Drawing on his own experience in education, Thomas R. Cole discusses the practical issues teachers face as they grow: from preparing for the first day at the front of a classroom, to managing a class, getting along with students, and developing an understanding of the work and expectations for oneself. It is not a collection of abstract educational theory but rather the experience of someone who has been there—plain in tone, focused on practicable methods and the cultivation of attitude. For today's readers, the school environment and institutional context differ from those of the present, yet its discussion of the teacher's role, patience, and sense of responsibility remains instructive. It is suitable as a primary text in the history of education and teacher education, and for general readers interested in early school life who wish to understand the educational atmosphere of the time. Readers should judge specific practices against their historical context, taking the ideas rather than copying the prescriptions.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers and researchers interested in teacher education and the history of education
Those preparing to teach or newly at the front of a classroom who want to learn about teacher growth
Teacher-training students and faculty studying early twentieth-century schooling
General readers who enjoy reflective, experience-based writing on education and teacher-student relationships

Not a good fit for

Teachers seeking a hands-on manual of contemporary classroom management and pedagogy
Readers expecting systematic educational theory or academic argument
Readers with limited English who need Chinese translation and notes

Reading tips

Begin with the table of contents to grasp the stages of teacher growth the author discusses, then choose chapters of interest for close reading.
Jot down similarities and differences with today's educational settings as you read, making comparative notes.
Can serve as material for a teacher-training reading group; for each chapter, pick one practice and discuss the conditions under which it applies.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book about educational theory or personal experience?

It leans more toward personal experience and practical reflection, discussing how teachers prepare and how they face classrooms and students rather than building a systematic theoretical framework. Readers should approach it as one educator sharing insights, and understand specific practices in light of their historical context.

Are the book's suggestions still applicable today?

The school system and teaching environment described differ from those of today, and specific practices should not be copied directly; however, the discussion of teachers' sense of responsibility, patience, and attitudes toward students remains relevant. Use it as a reference for reflecting on the teaching role, not as an operations manual.

Is it suitable as an introductory text for teacher-training students?

It can serve as supplementary reading. It helps teacher-training students understand what early teachers focused on as they grew, but it lacks systematic training in contemporary pedagogy and classroom management. Read it alongside current teacher-education textbooks rather than as a substitute for professional coursework.

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About the author

Thomas Raymond Cole Author · 1881–1970

Thomas R. Cole (1881–1970), full name Thomas Raymond Cole, is an author about whom little public information is available, including his nationality and life details. The library holds only one work by him, Learning to Be a Schoolmaster. Judging from its title, the book concerns how a teacher grows into a schoolmaster or educational administrator, placing it in the field of practical education and professional development. Writing of this kind is usually addressed to those new to teaching or to school management, and tends to emphasize the transmission of experience and everyday practice rather than theoretical construction. Given the limited sources, it is difficult to assess his specific views or stylistic details, or to confirm the book's actual influence and circulation in the educational circles of its time; only cautious remarks on its general subject can be offered.