Page images
PDF
EPUB

them in his library for reference. They are: L. A. Sherman's “Analytics of Literature,”

Walter Raleigh's “Style," and Herbert Spencer's “Philosophy of Style.” C. F. ANSLEY.

CHILD STUDY DEPARTMENT

G. W. A. LUCKEY, Editor

O

WING to the many requests from per the direction or evolution of thought cannot

sons interested, the child study depart always be anticipated. Quite frequently an in

ment of the MONTHLY will be conducted vestigation which seemed to promise great reduring the present year along lines somewhat sults gives little of value, while another subject similar to those of the past year. Those fa- with far less promise may produce much more miliar with the department will understand encouraging results. Wishing rather to be the what that means, and others will find the mat- chronicler of the better studies and investiter clearly stated in the June number of the gations as they occur, we cannot always state MONTHLY, which can be had on application. their nature in advance. We have in mind, In the first place, our object shall be to present however, a number of studies on adolescence, to our readers the best that can be had in child morals, and the moral and religious training of study and kindred lines of pedagogy, which we children; reading and literature for children; think to be of special value to teachers and drawing and art in the public schools; the parents. The field is a large one, and can only kindergarten; the home and the school; etc. partially be covered. Selection becomes neces- These topics are to form the nucleus for our sary, and this gives opportunity for error in work; the rest must be taken on faith. judgment, which we cannot hope wholly to avoid. Much interest was manifested in the papers However, as child study is taking on a more read before the child study section of the N. permanent form, and becoming more and more E. A., held at Washington, D. C. Many of recognized as a factor in education, the problem

these papers deserve a much wider circulation of selecting the good becomes less difficult.

than they are apt to receive if published only In the second place, we wish to keep the de- in the proceedings of the N. E. A. Consepartment in close touch with the schools of the quently we have arranged to give our readers country. To do this, we must hear from the the benefit of the most interesting and valuable teachers. No teacher can come into close sym- of these papers. In order to do this, we have pathy with her children unless they are com- had to reserve some other articles, as well as municative. And I think the same may be additional papers, until later issues, however, as said to be true here. Some of our best stud- most of the material which we aim to publish ies in childhood have occurred in obscure places in this department is such as contains permanent and by persons only slightly known to the pub- value, a few months' delay in its publication lic. The columns of this department are open

will not lessen its importance. to teachers everywhere. We desire to pub- The new movement in education includes lish that which is good, no matter from whom breadth of knowledge, as well as depth, and contributed. For this reason a certain amount the paper on Heredity and Environment, by of space is reserved for miscellaneous material, Edgar James Swift, while not dealing diand can be used for articles, reports, or an- rectly with public school work, contains much swers to questions pertaining to child study of interest to teachers and superintendents. without any way interfering with the main Every community does or does not send its purpose of the department.

quota of youthful criminals to the different For the sake of reading clubs we should be reformatory schools, the number depending pleased to be able to state in advance just what largely upon the moral tone of the community topics were to be treated and to what extent, and the healthful influences by which parents but we have learned through experience that and teachers surround their children. The criminal class could not continue to exist were uting to it but little value, while others consider it not for the fact that it is constantly being re- it of prime importance. In the discussion of inforced by innocent boys and girls, many of the problem each writer is apt to be especially whom we may have had at one tiine under our interested in some particular phase of the subinfluence. To prevent a child from falling may ject, and for this reason usually gives to it unbe of far more importance to society than to due prominence. In the final adjustment of the reform a criminal. Any information, therefore, matter all these views will be given proper recin reference to the real causes of criminology, ognition, and the discussions growing out of and the best means of prevention will, I take it, them will aid in bringing about better condibe appreciated by everyone interested in the tions. The paper by John G. Thompson, on training of children. The large part played by Child Study in the Training of Teachers, preenvironment, as set forth by Professor Swift's sents much food for thought, and will, I am paper, will doubtless be a surprise to many who sure, be appreciated by the readers of this dehave contented themselves in placing the faults partment. I agree thoroughly with President of their teaching upon heredity. Under the Thompson in his statements regarding the head of treatment several valuable suggestions teaching of drawing, literature, geography, are made.

nature study, etc., and likewise in his thought The paper by Will S. Monroe on the “De- that the proper way to study children is to velopment of the Social Consciousness of Chil- study children rather than to simply read books dren” is both interesting and suggestivo, and and treatises about them; but the latter have to my mind it furnishes a rather fitting com- their value and must not be discarded or overplement to the study of Heredity and Environ- looked. The paper contains many valuable sugment as mentioned above. The paper calls at gestions, and urges strongly the necessity of tention to the primitive origin of many of our keeping the teacher close to the spirit of the insocial organizations and institutions--hence dividual child. their stability and the need of this knowledge We must not in our anxiety to do the best in the proper social training of children. The thing go to the opposite extreme and allow our two studies, or investigations made by the study of children to result in mere sentimentalwriter to determine the kind of toys and com- ity. The spirit of love and sympathy must go panions desired by children, are suggestive and hand in hand with increasing knowledge; but to might be repeated with profit by teachers else- neglect one for the sake of the other means to where. We should not lose sight of the fact destroy the vitality of both. Any study of that the person most appreciated is usually the children which does not increase the individual's one that is exerting the greatest influence in love and syınpathy, as well as knowledge, can be shaping the individual's life.

of little service to the teacher. But I am unIt is to be regretted that the writer has not able to comprehend how it is possible to inbeen more explicit in presenting the results of crease a teacher's sympathy and love for her the answers to the first question. It is difficult children without at the same time increasing to interpret many of the figures showing the her knowledge. per cent of groups and of separate toys. It must be encouraging to those interested Again, it is not quite clear why tops, marbles, in child study to know how thoroughly the kites, etc., should be classed under the head of subject is impressing itself upon the educa"Emulation” rather than under the head of tors of the country. The increasing attend** Imitation”. The reader will find additional ance at the Clark University summer school, help by referring to the articles on Children's where child study is made the basis of work in Interests, Northwestern Monthly, January and every department, alone speaks volumes, and February, 1897.

especially is this true when we take into conAt present, schoolmen differ greatly with ref- sideration the 250 and more regular students, erence to the proper place to be given to child most of whom possess state or national and many study in the training of teachers, some attrib- international reputation. Again, not only is minds in whom the critical faculty has already mental facts of existence, and with which he has some development, such reference be permitted. only begun to familiarize himself as a field of

The teacher should first discuss the exer- study, without any presumption of finally setcises before the class and dictate to them the tling the question. title and suggestions. On a subsequent day Usually three topics will be presented under the students should bring in their original es- a single title. Each topic is for a separate says. In no case should the documents handed student-essay, but the titles will be discussed in in be allowed to consist of a series of categori- the text as a whole and with little or no refercal answers to the suggestions accompanying ence to the separate essay-topics. the exercises, nor should they be confined to

1. FLUCTUATING PRICES. the suggestions, but should include as many new points as the students can think of. In the The question naturally arises, why separate case of each student there must be an original titles have been adopted for fluctuating and for purposive arrangement of materials calculated steadý prices. Surely, it will be said, there to demonstrate a central theory which has ger- must be some one principle which governs in minated in his mind. The students must there- all questions of price. The objection is true in fore avoid discussing the suggestions in the one sense and untrue in another. It is true in order in which they are given. In other words, the sense that we are justified in always looking they are to follow the obvious principles gov- for a central principle in any group of phenomerning the construction of a literary essay; and ena that presents itself. We have a right to it will be found that the intense human bear- assume that the phenomena are grouped toing of the subjects discussed will exert a most gether because they belong together naturally, beneficial influence upon the ability of the stu- and that some natural characteristic may be dents to employ language and expression. found common to thế group. Now prices Experience has demonstrated that economic evidently form such a group, and if we seek to exercises assist the teacher of English at least break the group up into two, are we not as much as English and rhetorical instruction frustrating our object? assist the teacher of economics.

The answer is, that admitting, and even When the essays have been read by the strongly affirming the necessity of central teacher, a general criticism upon the tendencies principles, it must also be borne in mind that a observed in them may be made before the class. generalization may be too broad for practical It is here that the greatest discretion and pru- utility; for, after all, we seek to understand, dence are required, for the danger is very great and it is possible that a generalization may be that pupils be encouraged in making some final too broad to illuminate our understanding. It conclusion. That such conclusion might re- must always be borne in mind that a generalidound to the credit of this or that political zation is a human and finite method of progparty is neither here nor there; for whoever ress. If we may consider progress to consist undertakes economic instruction should hold in the learning of truth and in those changes himself above the breath of suspicion of current within the thinker that accompany increased political bias or affiliation. Of the danger of knowledge, then we must look upon “ general” partisanship, therefore, it is superfluous to reasoning as a mere method whereby a certain speak.

characteristic common to all the individuals of The other danger—that of preconceived con- a group is made to represent them. It will, clusions—has a real pedagogic interest. The therefore, be seen that the breadth of the genmerit that is believed to lie in the self-instruc- eralization that should be made is a practical tion herein advocated is precisely this, that if question depending upon the nearness to realthe method be properly employed, the studentity and the vividness of imagination which will be impressed with the fact that he has be- flow from it. gun the study of a large and ever-widening Now, if we attempt to subsume the whole subject, which reaches down into the funda- topic of value under the head of a single explanation, it will be found that that er being that it is not sufficiently characteristic of planation will fail in vividness and reality, the special field of inquiry, it is therefore well especially for the beginner, because it can be to take up different part-fields, where we shall nothing that is peculiar to the economic field, be more sure to discover characteristic princibut only something that is common to all or- ples. One way of doing this is to consider ganic life. In other words, it can be nothing separately those cases in which we notice the else han & general principle of adjustment, most frequency and extent of oscillation in known to prevail everywhere and always, to prices. By separating these cases from those which biological rather than social or economic in which we bave observed prices to be most science has most loudly called attention. stable, we shall be able to select interesting dis

It is true that value is the central point of tinctions of principle and influence. Undoubtthe science of political economy; in fact, is the edly the analogy of physics is the most useful science. It is the central concept of adjust to us, and we shall obtain great assistance from ment, from which the explanations of all phe- the habit of looking upon economic influences nomena of industry radiate like the spokes as forces. We must remember, however, that from the hub of a wheel. Such a central point we are dealing with the kingdom of mind and at once is a mental necessity, and represents an not with the kingdom of matter, and this resoutward fact. It is a mental necessity because, ervation will be the occasion of fruitful disas above implied, all reasoning is representa cussion in the numberless cases in which we tive, that is to say, we analyze by letting some shall have to call in the physical analogy. characteristic represent the whole, and by then I t is true that in almost any business & daily observing resulting relations. An example or even hourly fluctuation of prices may be obdrawn from common experience will suffi- served, while in the same business it is possible ciently substantiate this statement. A landscape to conclude that, on the whole, prices average so produces an effect upon a traveler sufficient for and so with little change. In other businesses, most purposes of art or industry, although it little dependence may be placed on the general is impossible that he either physically see or level of prices in the long run; and in still othmentally apprehend each leaf and each blade ofers, there is slight daily fluctuation. grass. Nature provides for him a short-cut by In trading a rifle for a canoe, in selling a byallowing him to generalize in the physical act product of industry, such as corn-cobs, or in of seeing and in the mental acts that corre- the fish market, affected as it is as well by the spond. Science proceeds upon the same nat- run of fish, the weather, and the occurrence of ural principles and seeks to use practicable religious feast days, we may seek to investi. substitutes to supply the place of the limited gate the simpler influences connected with senses with which we are endowed.

prices. We should here begin our investigaIt follows naturally, then, that if we choose a tion with the physical environment, and we certain field of investigation, like political econ- shall naturally find that it is such as accompanomy, over which we cannot at first cast a ies the less complicated phases of civilization. sweeping and satisfying comprehensive glance, Each of the concrete topics is drawn from inwe can, at least, take parts of the field and pur- dustrial conditions that have existed most exsue within them severally our representative clusively before the industrial revolution took process, and may then even assemble our repre- place one hundred and fifty years ago, not to sentative concepts and try to find in turn what speak of more modern improvements, and that is common in them, thus pursuing a re-represen- still exist on the frontiers of industry. Let tative process, or a representative process of the student endeavor to enumerate all of the the second degree. Thus the field of analysis symptoms of a stage of industry so little adin economics is very broad, and it does not fol- vanced as the one implied; not only the invenlow, because one has not made the last analysis, tions for production, but the methods of life, that therefore he has not made progress. of consumption, of recreation, and even of

One difficulty in too broad a generalization political and religious thought. He will then perceive that these different phases of life are be the exchange of peltry for groceries, while not independent, and that in following back the with the rifle the other man may intend to stock single category of economics, he is losing most his larder with venison. of the whole view of life in order to gain more It does not concern us, however, what theorof one side of it, and thus ultimately to know ies they have about their acts; it is our businessmore of all. If now he seeks the most impor- to make theories, not theirs. But what does tant distinction for his purpose between the old concern us is the consideration that we are not and the new civilizations, he will find that the dealing with these material produets, but with element of Time is preponderant. Under the intentions of the men with respect to them primitive conditions, short calculations are and with respeet to each other, and with their made, and therefore we are enabled to study feelings in connection with the material objeets the circumstances that affect prices in two and with each other. Feelings and intentions widely separated environments by noting that are not material things, and with feelings and environment which is characterized by short intentions we have solely to do and that which is characterized by long calcu- Again, we are not ealled upon to treat of all lations.

the causes of feelings and intentions, except so This way of dividing the subject on a time- far as we need a background for our picture. basis may not be the best, but it is at least sci- It is evident that the intention to take a trip for entific, for it adheres strictly to the facts. By the purpose of trading may depend upon infinnoting carefully our environment, we come ite moral and physical influences, upon the sense finally to feel that all of the phenomena which of proper well being, on family duty, upon the we find existing together at one time are char- changing of the seasons; such studies are beacteristic of each other, so that if one of the yond our specialty. We must confine ourselves phenomena be given to us, the others may be to the inquiry as to how given motives work, supplied. In this way, the paleontologist will, and as to what is their nature when once cre from a fossil tooth or femur, reconstruct for ated from whatever origin. you a marvelous creature, with an assurance that The economic act is the trade. The economie inspires confidence; or the horse-wrangler on a motive is that of advantage, whatever be the prinDakota ranch will tell you, as soon as he dis- ciples, moral or customary, which form an ideal cerns and recognizes one animal roaming far or type of advantage within the trader's mind. from the "bunch," which are its comrades that He does not necessarily seek the disadvantage are likely to be found hidden behind the nearest of his opponent: it is sufficient to suppose him "divide."

to seek his own advantage. Advantage, when While the primitive economy excludes in- used in this connection, is usually represented quiries respecting the industrial forces that by the term “ utility." Now we cannot conplay in Time, it leaves us, for this very reason, sider utility to him as inhering in the material free to weigh other motives. A price that is object, e. g., the canoe. We find the utility, not not affected by previous calculations must be in the canoe, but in the man. If we found it in the result of circumstances in which the parties the canoe, and if we were to say that if the find themselves suddenly

canoe were absent the utility would cease, and And, first of all, let us inquire what is the na- therefore the utility is inherent in the canoe, we ture of the subject matter with which we are should have to conclude that two canoes would dealing: does it belong to the world of matter contain twice the utility of one canoe; three or to that of mind? It is true that the fron- canoes, three times the utility, and so on; tiersmen exchange a canoe against a rifle and a whereas the slightest observation shows that pair of moccasins: all material substances and the probability is that the utility of the several industrial products. In their own minds, the canoes would decrease as their number inadvantages of the “sale” may appear material- creased, although it is again possible that istic, for by means of the canoe the one man under exceptional circumstances the contrary may perform a journey, the object of which may might hold true. We must therefore always

« PreviousContinue »