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Born near Crawfordsville, Indiana, McMurry studied at the University of Michigan and at Halle and Jena in Europe, earning a Ph.D. in 1889. Before teaching in higher education, he served as the principal of Carter High School (Englewood). He taught at several colleges, first as professor of pedagogics at the University of Illinois and then at Columbia University where he was appointed professor in 1898. While at the University of Illinois he introduced the "practice-teaching" method, which is now commonly known as "student teaching" and is found in most teacher training programs across the country. With Ralph Stockman Tarr he published the Tarr and McMurry Common School Geographies (1900), and with his brother Charles, Method of the Recitation (1903).
This is an excellent book still very relevant today. Why are our children graduating school still unable to think? Sure, many of them can name lists of facts and can verbalize "other people's" ideas, theories etc but can they think, reason, develop their own opinions and ideas through their own research and seeking out of knowledge? Are they encouraged to do this in schools today? I think not and this book tells why and how it should and can be. Though written in the early part of the 20th Century, if you didn't know it you'd think it was written quite recently.