New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-06
CHILD STUDY NOT NEW.
DIR. GRossMAN LECTURES BEFORE THE
PUBLIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
TT is AS cruel. TO PUNISH A CHILD FOR IAZr-
NESS AS IT WOULD BE TO PUNISH HIM

TT is AS CRUEL TO PUNISH A CHILD FOR rAzr-
NESS AS IT WOULD BE TO PUNISH HIM
FOR BEING ILL.,"
Illness prevented Dr. Edward Eggeston from
being present yesterday afternoon to address the
Public Education Association. Mrs. L. r. Hewitt.
the presiding officer. presented in his stead DIT.
Grossman. superintendent Of the schools OF the
Ethical Culture Society. DR. Grossman delivered
an interesting lecture on Child Study in the Work
ingman's School" AS we have IT," said DR.. Gross
man, Child study was invented by Dr. Stanley
Hail. OF Worcester but 1t Is mistake TO suppose
ii Every mother. every teacher every edu-
Gator is less patient. tactful. experienced
student OF child nature. The difference between
the old method of study and the new * that the
former was empric. whereas the latter Is supposed
10 be scientific
THE most important characteristic of the new
method is Its appeal to the conscience OF the child
TO direct that all ought to become more IN
timately acquainted with the individual children
under our care The utmost frankness between
parents and teachers is necessary. besides great
many devices"
The lecturer then proceeded to explain some OF
the devices in in the schools OF the EthlcaI
Culture Society. when receive child ne
said, at Is often difficult to assign him TO class.
IL we belonged TO a system OF schools, we might
put him in a class parallel to the one In which he
had formerly been. To examine him Is unsatis-
factory Our manner Of questioning Is so dinereht
from that employed in other schools that we could
hardly Judge him fairly by his answers. The only
way is to try him In certain class. After allow
ing him time adjust himself we reques; teachers
TO hand in reports of him. When he has been
graded the reports continued. In addition 10
the reports special made to assist parents
and teachers in understanding the child"
Dr. Grossman specially emphasized the benef-
cent results Of physical tests Children are ex-
Il hv nhy.i
year" he said. The existence of nsidous diseases
is often discovered and special treatment Is pro-
vided in such The physicians guard u.s. 100
from infectious diseases. II was remarkable that
during the measles epidemic last spring our great
school in Fifty-fourth-st. escaped the Infection
our physicians assist us also In discovering the
cause of mena and moral deterioration 1t Is often
as cruel TO punish child for laziness or suiieh-
ness as il would be TO punish patient for being
ill.,"
DR.. Grossman instanced a number OF cases IN
which mental and moral defects in children had
been traced to physical intirmities. lie described
the course of treatment prescribed for large num-
Der of individual cases. .., =, ,sod
in the Workingmans School," said the lecturer
at is interesting TO see what a htId nv the SAM
teacher Each teacher him under different
conditions Each represents different knd OF ap
neal TO the child The teacher or history dcclaie
that a certain boy has weak memory, bnt me
teacher of natural sciences MAINTAINS t h sh hi
memory is particularly strong one calls MN SHY
another says he is insolent. Similar contras,s al
nnar nerhans in his conduct at home and at school
His teacher reports him conscientious MS mouuh 1r
nnds him careless At home he Is self -controlleu
AT school he is passionate. All this investigation
throws the child into bold relief. $500, - -.
The reports home are not based on per- per-
centage records Examinations are not consiinei'n
very important. The teachers promote AZ n1cre TO-
ceived and watched over he * dismissed he
same individual estimate graduates MIN ,,
ITO nv mind" said DR.. Grossman IN concIusiol
eft has become clear that there are chlIdren 50
nor,nal that they need special attention IN specl
;ns,intinns anart from normal children The fur
damental principle of child study. under al coiaii
tons however Is this Love the chiId ana he VIII
reveal himself TO you