Educational work presents so many practical difficulties that it is well to see what help we can get from the study of Nature, and the physical forces which control growth in all living things. A general knowledge of Natural History, Biology and Physics, is now so widely diffused as to render it possible to make these branches of science the basis for studying children as seen by us. It is thought by many that the time has come when it is advisable that School Teachers, and others concerned in education, should acquire a more accurate and scientific knowledge of children of different kinds, and of pupils under different conditions—it may then be advisable that some systematic instruction on this subject should be provided, and included as a part of the pupilteacher's curriculum and examination. A short course of instruction of this kind would render previous studies in science, psychology and school-management more practical, applying the whole to the daily routine of the duties of the school-room. The materials upon which the teacher works are the child's brain and body, whatever method he may use, and it seems likely that a general and continuous observation of the facts seen in pupils may help to remove some of the present defects in educational arrangements. The doctor, in busy practice, finds each year a certain number of cases of "consumption" in his district, he would not know whether this disease were more or less prevalent in his locality than in the country at large, if means had not been taken to ascertain the general average of this condition, and its distribution among the population. A school may contain a considerable number of "nervous children," this fact may be attributed by some to the management of the school, but at present we do not know the average of this condition and its distribution among the school population. This kind of knowledge would be very useful, and would help to settle some educational problems; some defective conditions are frequently charged as produced by education which may be due to other causes. It would greatly aid our knowledge of the school population, and the solution of problems dependent thereon, if an examination of, say 50,000 pupils in various selected schools, were made and a report issued. The ideal of perfect mental function, which should be constantly before the teacher's mind, is only to be known by observation and study. The student-teacher needs training in quick perception, visual and auditory, and in ready description of conditions seen in children. In visiting schools it is not difficult to recognise the apt and able teacher by his ready and accurate account of the children in his class. To gain this special aptitude is one reason for urging these studies, when once the faculty of observing and describing has been acquired by teachers they have a power in their hands of the highest professional value, and may accumulate an experience that will assure success in management and skill in training their pupils. Teaching has become a highly honoured and very important profession. When we consider that about one sixth of the population is under school training, and that more than 6,000,000 pupils are under the daily influence of school teachers, we see at once their enormous power and the deep interest we all have in teaching as a profession. It may well be doubted whether any other profession or calling in life produces so large an influence by its daily work. The responsibilities of educating the children of a nation are immense, all branches of science, and our own profession in particular, may well be called upon to take their part. In the following pages it will be my endeavour to try and advance a method of physico-psychology, and show how we may found a section of state medicine taking cognizance of all questions concerning the conditions of pupils in school, their surroundings, and the physical outcome of school training. Classification of pupils is important to your results. Learn to know the make of your pupils that you may know their tendencies in action, and the effects of your training. Further knowledge of children will aid your methods, and enable you to assess results with allowance for the material you work upon. Some have objected to any knowledge of methods of observation of children being placed before teachers—‘a little knowledge is a dangerous thing '—but surely the head-master or mistress can control this as well as the tendency to exceed the part assigned to under teachers in other matters. Remember that to be successful in training and teaching you must be strong, and that it is knowledge. that gives power, the knowledge not only of scholastic matters, but a wide and deep knowledge of children in their bodily and mental character. It is obvious that in presenting new work it is impossible to avoid some technical terms, but these are fully explained in the text; an index is provided which enables the reader to make such cross references as may be necessary. I gladly acknowledge my obligations to Dr J. A. Coutts for his kind assistance in preparing certain formulae, and in correction of portions of the text. 5, PRINCE OF WALES TERRACE, KENSINGTON PALACE, W. F. W. * * * A chronological list of the author's lectures and scientific papers on the subject of this work is given at pages 213–215. |