Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-09-08

| pants, ana in the afternoon while her
mother was gone she painted all the
chairs in the parlor so as to make them
look nice for her mother. When her
mother came home Jennie ran to meet
her, and said: oh, mother come and
see now pretty l have made the parlor,
put her mamma took her paints away
ana sent her to bed. If you had been
her mother, what would you have done
or said to Jennie"
The children thought that in answer
ing this question they We're merely
completing a language lesson, whereas
the aim of the exercise was to reach
their ideas on the subject Of deserved
punishment. The boys and girls eX-
amlned varied from to l6 years Of
age, and their answers showed a great
variety of moral standards. Some
thought that the mother ought simply
to have explained to Jennie why she
was wrong, others that she should
have been told not TO do it again;
some advised threatening. others scold-
ing, some locking her up, others max
ing her clean the chairs or lose Il meal.
others that she should be sent TO bed
or whipped, or punished in some pecu-
liar way. on the whole the boys We're
found more severe than the girls,
melting out to Jennie an extreme pun
ishment.
\ great many societies for child
study exist in Europe and several in
this country. The photography OF the
subject now runs up to nearly a thou
sand titles, and many Of the works
published have a popular as well as
scientific interest. outside Of the
societies a great many individuals are
working along lines suggested by Dr.
Han OF some other scientific man.
Almost every mother who has had the
benefit Of the so-called higher cduca-
tion means to make complete study
Of the physical and mental development
Of her iirstbOrn She watches eagerly
for the first smile. the first sign Of fear
or JOY or the expression Of other emo
t!ons. Sometimes she perScVereS but
more often her observations are only
partial. Household or social cares pre-
vent her hanging constantly over the
Child's cradle in the combination Of
maternal and scientific devotion which
She had first planned. The maiden
aunt is really the person best fitted to
carry out this study, and one Of these,
Miss Milhcrnt Shinu, has been very
successful in her work one mother.
AIrs. Winfield $. Hail. has published
study Of the first 500 days OF her
child's life. which is a very important
document for future investigators to
refer TO. The physical measurements
We're all taken by the babys father.
who is himself a scientific man. This
mother was her bahys only nurse and
constant companion, ana during the
first 800 days of his life she was not
absent from him more than half
dozen times during his waking hours.
Il is only the exceptionally devoted.
scientific mother who can show such
record and we must not judge too
harshly those whose efforts relax u lit
tie. The occasional experiments of the
trained maiden aunt are generally
more valuable than the more spas
modic observations of the more partial
mother.
In this country two Of the most
active societies for child study are
those Of Illinois and Iowa. and both OF
them have laid out rather careful plans
or schemes OF work. The Illinois society
will hold a congress in Chicago in May.
and interesting discussions arr ex-
pected on various branches Of this i'm
portant subject Some members uf the
society have carefully followed out the
plans for study that have been pro-
posed at various times. ana the work
Of any careful observer is always wei
come.
IA ~ ~,
Illinois Society, dealing with the
"child's motives" is Of considerable I'M
terest. Among the questions asked are
the following:
What is the child's idea Of an occu-
patton for himself when grown? Rea-
son for choice?"
What experience has thus far af-
forded the child his greatest pleasure
or joy in life? His greatest pain?
rs there any portion Of his school
course duties which he performs from
a sense Of intrinsic charm in the thing
done?
Name, in order Of relative interest.
other subjects Of the course.
What seems the childs real motive
when he pursues these subjects?
Does the child's physical develop
ment appear to be normal? State any
apparent defects. Are these the result
Of fault or heredity? Out of school en-
vtronment? Faulty school provi-
sions?" a;.y
But enough has been said to show the
trend Of the movement which. though
not Yet very vast one. has reached
large number Of our educators. and is
destined to 90 an immense amount for
the rising generation of children, by
forcing upon the minds of their elders
that they must BE regarded as indi-
Viduals, rather than as fractions of the
whole community Chicago Times
Herald.
Poltroonery and Pluck in the Army.