The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940 Page: 545

Book Reviews

technique of teaching involving "four steps, namely (1) the
presentation, (2) the assimilation, (3) the discussion, and (4)
the testing." Although "the broad concepts and understandings
were set up as the author views them," high school teachers are
encouraged, if they so desire, to substitute what they regard as
desirable concepts and understandings and, by implication, of
course, to adapt the technique of these workbooks to achieve
their desires.
The author did not prepare these workbooks to accompany
certain specific textbooks or references. She states that they lend
themselves to any good book on history written on the high school
level. She suggests "the use of all available material." She says
also that the high school pupil can "guide himself through the
study" of these three phases of history because "the basic idea
underlying the method set up is individual self-directed learning."
The teacher acts as critic and supervisor, that is to say, checks
the pupil's work for correctness.
There is no doubt in the reviewer's mind that a lot of time is
wasted in teaching. In other words, the results are meager in
contrast with the exertions of the teacher. Miss Yelderman's
technique of teaching, it appears to this reviewer, has the quality
of placing definite responsibilities on the pupils to work for them-
selves, under guidance, to be sure. The teacher will still have
much work to do, but the work will be that of checking the
results of "individual self-directed teaching." It appears that the
technique is an excellent one and that it will appeal both to the
alert high school history teacher and pupil. The actual applica-
tion of the technique in other classrooms should test its appeal
and hence its worth.
R. L. BIEBELE.
The University of Texas.
Coahuila y Texas en la Epoca Colonial. By Vito Alessio Robles.
(Mexico: Editorial Cultura, 1938. Pp. xii, 751. Maps,
figures and plates.)
This volume is the first comprehensive study of any section
of northern Mexico to come from the press. Robles may be likened
to a pioneer farmer who dedicates himself to the task of clearing
the land and sowing the first seed. His task was harder even

545