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

new science known as pan
more literally, child study. ,iyersr
All of the large colleges and III. ~
ties in the United States nave no" ;,
vided courses in what is known as v
new psychology. Connected Win ti''.S'
are completely equipped LABORATORIES
for studying the minutest de 'aiis vi Wy
| great mental system. The pril4 'clpai ~
vestigations in these worksho4 . a.
made upon children. This is for th'
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 vari-
Gus universities bear to the department
OF agriculture-so far as Is concerned
the collection and diffusion of the
knowledge obtained. Instead of prac-
ticlng with plants to learn the most de-
s1rable 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
70 ffo, Il, hot o. n
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 ve-shattering switch, the pu-
Pill Of the twentieth century will be re-
lieved of many discomforts 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 chid's ability The average boy
can sit still a certain length Of time, 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 III a certain amount of light, he
can study so much in a certain night,
he can rene mber 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 a chance to go
ahead, provision being made for his
weaknesses until cured?
In the model experimental laboratory
for chiid-study is found apparatus for
studying the motor abilities, rapidity
of actions, powers of attention, percep-
ton, memory, WILL sensitiveness 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 irreguIarity 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, and also of |
chemicals, both tasted and smelt, are
also tested. All Of these Investigations
are made without pain or discontinue
70 anyone.
WOMEN, INSURANCE.