The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-12-21


new science known as "paidology," or
more literally, child study.
All of the large colleges and universi-
ties in the United States have now pro-
v1ded courses in what is known as the
new psychology. Connected with these
are completely equipped laboratories
for studying the minutest details of the
great mental system. The principal in
Vestlgations in these workshops are
made upon children. This is for the
reason that most college students un-
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-
ticing with plants to learn the most de-
sirable processes for their cultivation,
the former experiment stations study
lue DuuQ1ng INFANT mlnQ.
Reports upon the work done thus far
in all of these laboratories have lately
been collected at the bureau of educa-
>tion 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
school life. Every effort is being 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 hard-seated stool, in constant fear
of the nerve-shattering switch, the pu-
Pill OF the twentieth century will be re-
lieved of many discomforts at present
existing.
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 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 in a certain amount of light, he
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 a chance to go
ahead, provision being made for his
weaknesses until cured?
In the model experimental laboratory
for child-study is found apparatus for
studying the motor abilities, rapidity
OF actions, powers of attention, percep-
tion, memory, will, sensitiveness to fa-
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
narcotics 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 apd sound, and also of
chemicals, botd tasted and smelt, are
also tested Aii of these Investigations
are made without pain or discontinue
to anyone.