Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-02-09
PSYCHOLOGICAL SPIRIT
PROF. SMITH TALKS TO
MOTHERS AND TEACHERS
Invention aud Application by Teacher
of new and Interesting Games
Helps School Through
Manual Training,

"Self-Control and Self-RClianCC' was
the subject of an address made by Prof
Arthur Maxson Smith Of oahu Col.
lege. at the meeting Of mothers and
teachers held at Punahou Preparatory
| school on Friday afternoon.
After brief historical sketch show
ing the development OF the ideas Of
self-control and self-relianCe and their
application to the school, Or. Smith
gave the psychological definition of the
terms as accepted at present Self
control on its negative side Is the vol
untary inhibition of spontaneity: on
! the positive side II is the voluntary
| guidance of activities. with or without
attendant predetermined conditions.
Self-reliance has static" and "dy-
mamie" aspect Static" self-reliancc
is belief in the ability of self to do or
not to do a certain thing. Dynamic"
self-reliance is the independent, cX-
perimental exercise of activities. with
/ a definite purpose.
These definitions Of self-COntrol and
self-reliance were then applied to the
| generally accepted three-fOld division
Of the educative process. viz, the
physiological psychological and socio-
logical. It was shown that in every
case the experience OF the child forms
the real criteria for his further de-
velopment Of self-control and self-re-
lance. On the physiological side II
was shown that children left very
largely to themselves in their muscu-
lar activities would attain self-control
and self-reliance Of the best type.
The suggestion and help Of the
school might be best furnished by
manual training and also by the in
vention and application on the part
OF the teacher. OF new and interesting
games, with pedagogiC value.
DR.. Smith referred to the progress
which the Greeks made IN regard to the
use Of games. and he criticised rather
severely the school system OF Hawaii
Cor rot having made provision for in.
struction In manual training.
Applying the ideas of self-control
and self-reliance to the psychological
side of education. DR.. Smith pointed
principles of apperception and interest
for the purpose of cultivating in the
child mental self-COntrol and self-reli-
anCe. Several interesting illustrations
Of this were given. Dr. Smith also
recommended instruction in religion
as one of the strongest helps in the de-
velopment OF mental self-relance and
Ia. Of he
child's self-reliance to develop into
over-estimation OF his powers.
Educational Sociology.
In applying the ideas OF self-control
and self-reliance to the sociological
side of education, II was shown tina.
there Is tendency among children u
check, without outside Interference. the
violation Of each others rights. and
thus develop social sell-control. So
Cial self-reliance will be best brought
about by showing the child his true
economic position in his community,
thus calling forth his self-reliance to
meet clearly conceived responsibilities
and duties. To this end II was earn.
ostly recommended that education
should follow more closely the con
crete lines OF development OF the race,
and especially of the community OF
which the child Is Z part
Psychological Spirit.
In closing his address DR., Smith re-
marked that there had been through
out his remarks an underlying purpose
TO emphasize and recommend to the
teachers the cultivation of what Prof,
Royce has called the psychological
, spirit" To this end every teacher
should do some hard work in the
, science of education, particularly on its
, psychological side. If every teacher
would do this, instead of falling back
J on experience" a position roundly
condemned by DIR. Butler, teaching
would cease to be mechanical mani
pulation of children according to cut
and dried traditional rules. and would
1 be an intelligent development Of the
/ ehild's mind and character in accord
, ance with the laws and natural ten
t dencles bound up In the soul OF every
70 child.