Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-11-15

new science known as pan
more literally, child study. iyersl
All of the large colleges ana III. nro
ties in the United States nave now :,
vided courses in what is known as u
new psychology. Connected VIII 49,
| are completely equipped lapoistoA ~. ~
| for studying the minutest de 'aiis " Wy
| great mental system. The pril4 'eipat -.
| vestigations in these workshoI = -,
made upon children. This is for ~
reason that most college students u :
dertaking psychological courses are pre-
pairing to be pedagogues, that is to say,
teachers of the young. The child-study
laboratories in colleges bear to the de-
partment of education much the same
| relationship which the agricultural eX-
pertinent stations connected with Varl-
Gus universities bear to the department
OF agriculture-so far as is concerned
the collection and diffusion OF the
knowledge obtained. Instead of prac-
ticing with plants to learn the most de-
sirable processes for their cultivation,
the former experiment stations study
the budding infant mind.
Reports upon the work done thus far
in all of these laboratories have lately
been collected at the bureau Of educa-
ton by Miss e. Toleman Smith, an edu-
cational specialist, to whom the writer
is indebted.
1t would appear that the child of the
very near future is to enjoy an ideal
sabnn1 lffa off ic hpinp made
by these expert paidologists to detect
weaknesses in all of the State school
systems. Although the youth of the
present generation fares many hun
dreds per cent better than did his
grandfather, made to sit almost all day
on a hard-seated stool, in constant fear
Of the nerve-shattering switch, the pu-
Pill of the twentieth century will be re-
lieved of many dscomforts at present
existing
1t is the opinion of most child-stu-
dents that our boys and girls are edu-
Gated too much according to the av~
erage child's ability. The average boy
can sit still certain length Of slime, he
can hear common conversation so many
feet away, his nerves are sensitive TO
certain degree, he can endure certain
amount Of pain and exposure, he can
work in a certain amount of light, ne
can study so much in a certain night,
he can remember so much OF his yester-
days lesson, and SO on. But what is to
become Of him who is below the av-
erage? If below the average in hear
ing, sight, memory, nerve. strength, en-
durance, ETC., must he be put back in a
lower grade or given chance to go
ahead, provision being made for his
weaknesses until cured?
In the model experimental laboratory
for childstudy is found apparatus for
Of actions, powers of attention, percep-
ton, memory, will, constituencies to ia
tigue, pain, and hundreds of other con-
ditions both of children and matured
persons. They are made to sleep On
balances graduated to such fine points
that the slightest irregularity of pulse,
respiration, circulation, temperature,
ETC., may be detected. Mild doses Of
and nervines are given. The
patient is put under an air pump and
the effect of varying pressures Of at
against the entire surface of
the body is observed. Certain muscles
are worked until tired The effects Of
hypnotism, electricity, varying degrees
of light, heat and sound, ana also of
chemicals, both tasted and smelt, are
also tested. All Of these Investigations
are made without pain or discontinue
to anyone.