Evening star., 1898-07-13
THE EFFECT OF WEATHER
Interesting Paper Read Before the Child
Study Department.
Statistics Recorded During Fourteen
Years in Denver and What
They Developed.

udy AFTERNOON III FOunuTy SHuTCu he
opening paper was read by Prof. Edwin G.
Dexter of the Colorado State Normal
School. who took for his subject Effects of
Weather Upon the Activities of Children"
Prof. Dexter's paper was an attempt to
demonstrate in scientific way some basis
for the belief which resms to be wide
spread among teachers that definite condi-
tions of the weather have effects peculiar
to themselves urCn the emotional states of
children, shown by their department in
the school room.
The study was made for the city of Den
yer, Col. The records of corporal punish
ments-the only permanent records of mis-
demeanors in the scnools-for fourteen
years were carefully tabulated, together
with the thermometer, barometer, wind.
humidity, character of the day and precipt-
tation readings, as recorded at the United
States weather bureau, for every day of
the fourteen years on which misdemean-
or requiring corporal punishment occurred.
The curve thus constructed was compared
with the normal conditions for Denver and
some interesting conclusions arrived at.
Copies of the charts showing graphically
the excess of corporal punishment under
certain conditions, and the decrease in fire.
squency under other definite weather states
were distributed in the audience.
What the Statistics Showed.
1t was shown by the paper that the time
Of year seemed to have but little effect
UPON the frequency of misbehavior, their
monthly occurrence being about proper
tional to the number of school days in the
month.
High winds were shown to be accompan-
led by marked states of emotional eXcasses,
as On days when the movement was very
great five times the ordinary number OF
youngsters received their whippngs.
The barometer seems to throw but little
light upon the subject, as it made little diff
ference In the number of punisnmants
whether its readings We're high or low.
The thermometer too, showed little eff
feet according to the paper, while the hui
midity-that is, the relative state OF dry
ness or moistness of the atmosphere-seem-
ed to make the greatest difference of ALL
1t was shown that for the fourteen years
studied, on days that were abnormally dry
(humidities below 30) the number of mis-
demeanors requiring punishment was 700
per cent above the average.
Strange enough, the precipitation and
character of the day made little difference,
there being about the average number of
misdemeanors on rainy and dry days, cloudy
and fair ones.
Prof Dexter did not conclude that the
weather affected the pupil only, but pre-
sumed that the emotional state of the
teacher. as affected by the same causes
lad quite as much to do with the use of
the rod.
DR.. Elmer Gates. the eminent psycholo
gist of Chevy Chase, gave an interesting
review of his experiments upon the rear
ing of children, showing that high electric
potentials stimulated mental activities,
while low potentials lessened them, show
ing that children responsvely reacted to
external conditions.
the Training of Teachers" by Principal
John G. Thompson of the Fitchburg Nor
NAL School, and The Development of So
cial Consciousness In Children" by Prof.
G of ha tfiaI1 al
School
Three Prominent Movements.
Prof. Thompsons paper was attentively
followed. He said that in the last few
years three movements have bean partic-
ularly prominent in school work.
The first is a re-emphasis of the fact
long ago pointed out, that children should
be led to study things rather than about
things. We are beginning to see that the
earth and the out-of-doors is very near to
every child and at the hand of every teach
er Yet in child study we seem likely to
repeat the old mistake and to study about
children rather than to study children
Glasses of students prepar-
ing to be teachers devote their precious
time to reading articles about children and
collecting anecdotes and even pictures OF
children. But one step more Is needed to
carry out fully the old phases of nature
work-to equip our leading normal schools
of mounted specimens of the
various kinds of children.
Child study in the training of teachers
should deal with children rather 1aan study
about them.
The second movement in education is a
recognition of the Individuality Of the pu-
Pill. While in school work in general we
seem to be breaking away frcm the idea
that there Is some single average IDEAL
child that may represent the child of the
first grade or of the .ifth grade, and on,
the greatest stress in child study seems
to be laid upon averages. What the child
OF six likes to read: how often the child
of ten plays truant; how does the child Of
twelve regard tale bearing-these seem to
be the vital questions. Thousands of an
swers are collected ana averaged in the
attempt to build up the average or ideal
child of the first, fourth or sixth grade.
The third movement in education is
recognition of the influence and power OF
the personality of the teacher.
Child study mas led many to believe that
children may be studied as r,inerals are
studied, as the scientist studies toadS or
snakes, as he studies dogs under tie
influence of alcohol.
Child study In the training of teachers
cannot be coldly intellectual Unless it de-
velops in sympathy for the child, 1t IS a
failure.
NEEDS OF NORMAL SCHOOLS