Evening star., 1898-07-09
Relations Of Biology and Psychology
to Methods of Education.
TALK ON MENTAL ABNORMALlfIES
General Discussion of Theme by a
Number Of Speakers.
PRACTICAL DISCOVERIE

SohfCHtiOH dt tIc XNdStoiioA 1hSdtck tiaiS
morning. The chairman was Superintend-
ent J. M. Relston Of New Jersey. and the
principal speaker, DR.. Krohm Of Illinois.
The attendance was quite complimentary
to the speakers, and there seemed to be a
unanimous interest in the subjects pre-
sented.
Rev. Frank Sewall of the Swedenborgian
Church offered the opening prayer. DIR.
w. o. Krohm. psychologist. Eastern Illi-
nois Hospital for the Insane at Kankokee,
ILL.,, read a paper upon minor mental alb
normalities among children. DR.. Krohm
said he did not intend to pose as the ad-
vocate of some fad or fashion, but 1t was
his purpose to discuss subject in which
all educators should take a deep interest.
The mental abnormalities do exist among
children whatever the effort made to dis
guise the fact. He proposed to discuss the
cause and effects of this condition. The
health of school children Is receiving much
more attention than formerly, buildings
are being better built and ventilated. but
mental abnormalities have evoked the SYM
pathies of few.
The first cause for the abnormalities as
found In young school children is an over
dependence upon the law of heredity. The
speaker criticised severely those parents
who depend upon their own ability for the
development of the ehilds mind. Such an
error is often fatal to the requirement of
knowledge by the child. There is a great
difference between natural DEVELOPMENT
and artificial requirement. Too much de-
pendence Is placed upon heredity.
Another Cause.
The second cause for mental abnormali-
ties in the child, Dr. Krohm said, is found
In the domain of gynetic psychology
Mental development in children Is by
stages, and the course of study should be
arranged in a similar manner The courses
Of study pursued in schools where the
same studies are prescribed for all chill
dren were criticised. The child should be
allowed to pursue the studies best adapted
to his natural inclinations. The whole child
should be educated, and only when this is
done will the pupil attain the highest sue
cess.
More depends upon the order of studies
than upon the studies themselves. If the
course of ctudy is adapted to fit the child S
mind it will make his knowledge more clear
and the requirement Of knowledge more
pleasant, with a consequent increase of
the store of information.
In the domain of abnormal psychology
DR.. krohm found the third cause for alb
normalities. These abnormalties attack
first the finest faculties of the mind. He
warned the teachers to be watchful for
the appearance of fatigue or nervous over
strain in their pupils. To avoid such a con-
dition, he said, the heaviest school work
should be performed at the period of the
day when the child's mind is most active.
The localization of brain function was
another cause assigned by DR.. Krohm for
the existence of abnormalities. All parts
of the brain do not send forth the same
sensations, and this was pointed out to be
another reason for the all-around educa
ton, especially of young children. Brain
disorderliness, according to DR.. Krohm, is
due more to one-sidedness of education
than to any other cause. In discussing this
branch of his subject, the speaker alluded
to the fact that many children take pride
in devoting a large amount of time to home
study. This work, after school hours, he
said, is irrational and unnecessary. When
the pupil leaves the school he should do so
as the business man leaves his office. and
feel that when the class room door closes
upon him that his work for the day is done.
A correction of existing methods along the
lines indicated, the doctor believed, would
correct to some extent the present errors.
The program was varied at this point
with a vocal solo by Miss May Levers of
this city. For an encore Miss Levers sang
THE Star Spangled Banner the audience
standing during its rendition and cheering
heartily at its conclusion.
Practical Discoveries.
Professor Stanley Coulter of Purdue Uni
versity was on the program for an address
on the latest practical discoveries in bio
logical science and their bearing on educa-
ton, hut several calls failed to produce the
professor.
The discussion Of the subject, however,
was opened by N. A. Harvey. professor of
natural science at the State Normal School,
West Superior. Wis. All educational
theories, he said, must conform to the laws
of psychology, and psychology is a branch
or biology. Biology is q comparatively
young science, being only forty years old
in it's present form, and it has not yet revo-
lrtionized pedagogics.
One Of its most important discoveries,
said Professor Harvey, was the fact of the
existence of localization Of brain functions
which has passed beyond the realm of dis
cussion. Biology emphasizes the import
aEce of sense in education and the de-
pendence of mind upon the external forces
Of nature. 1t also emphasizes vigorously
the absolute dependence of mind upon
physical development. Between bodily
growth and mental activity there Is an in
verse relation. In this connection Profess
sor Harvey declared there is no such thing
as memory, as generally conceived. The
process of remembering is simply a corela-
tion between the mental phenomena and
the working of brain cells.
Concerning the limitations of biology,
Prof. Harvey said biologists have as yet
failed to demonstrate the effect of educa-
tlon upon the organisms of mental activ-
ity. No difference has been discovered be-
tween educated and uneducated brain. Ma
ture has more influence than education
upon the development. In the opinion of
Prof. Harvey it is unwise to attempt to
place educaton upon biological grounds.
Not to do this is simply recognition of ex-
listing conditions. But Prof. Harvey ex-
pressed the hope that in the near future
biology may occupy a more important posi-
ton in educational administration than is
now given to 1t.
Mental Disintegration.
Mr.. L. c. Greenlee, superintendent of
schools of Denver, closed the formal discus
sion of the papers. He talked briefly upon
ths mental disintegration of children. The
speaker commended the extension of phys
ical culture, as the body should be develop
ed equally with the mental faculties. Chill
dren should rot be given something to do
which will not require effort their part
Success in the employment of methods lies
chiefly in the of correct means and
utilizing them at the right tims in the right
way. The work of the teacher is to implant
vigorous aims and incentives in the work of
acquiring an education.
DR.. Bearley of Lancaster, Pa, offered a
resolution calling the attention of the COM
mission of education to DR.. krohm's paper
requesting that it be issued by the bureau
a bulletin and distributed among the
teaching fraternity throughout the country.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
and referred to the committee on resoIu-
tions.