University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-01-23
ATeacherofSo Sociology

- 4 S~SssfSy ~
A careful analysis of the thoughts,
the ideas, the beliefs and the works
of DR.. Charles A. Ellwood. professor
of sociology at the University OF Mis-
souri,. shows that he is confident OF
its theoretical and practical value as
a science, and that he is giving his
best efforts toward disseminating Its
teachings among the members OF hu-
man society. Coming to this institu-
ton from the University Of Nebraska
in 1900, Doctor Ellwood has impressed
himself upon the people Of Missouri,
ut the same time gaining for himself
a position of influence among the fore
most students of sociological subjects.
Believing that human society will
become more nearly what it should be
through education. and not through
legislative action or governmental CO.
ercion, Doctor Ellwood has devoted
his full time and attention the last
fifteen years toward the study Of so
GEOLOGY and the education OF the
masses to the needs of social prog
ress. While he has spent most OF his
time studying and teaching the prin.
ciples of the science, he does 1t only
as means to an end, for he believes
in sociology for what help it Is and
may be in the future uplift Of hu-
manity.
Doctor Ellwood was born at Og.
densburg, N. Y, in 1873. He received
his academic education at Cornell
University, in the same state, going
from there to the University Of Chi
cago for the session of 1S96-97. The
following session he studied at the
University OF Berlin, Germany. Re
turning to the University OF Chicago
on a fellowship, he received the de-
gree of Phi. D. in the spring OF 1899.
From Chicago, he went to the Univer-
sity of Nebraska as lecturer In So
GEOLOGY. where he remained only one
session before being called to the pro
lfessorship that he now holds.
Doctor Ellwood maintains that So
ciology can be studied to best advan-
tage through psychological and bio
llogical-chiefiy psychologicalEmeth.
DDS. He believes that social remedies
should be applied to collective hu-
|manity rather than to individual
cases, though he realizes that indi-
vidual application is often necessary.
lwhile he favors and gives assistance
Ito organized charity work, he believes
lit gives only temporary relief and
brings about no permanent uplift.
He seeks to do what he can toward
|riddirg society of its shackles, but he
would do this by overcoming the ig'
|norance and narrow self-interest OF
individuals and classes. Realizing
THAT society cannot be radically
lchanged in one generation, he says il
lis to the children that social reform
lers must look and in them have theil
hopes.
OF the branches of sociology, Doc
tor Ellwood is most interested In Grim
Iinology. With the three classes ot
criminals, the instructive, the habit
ual and the single offender, he woult
have our criminal courts and correc
tional institutions deal differently
, members of the first class he woult
segregate as much as possible; thos'
of the habitual class he would punisl
with indeterminate sentences, termin
ating, in the case of any individual
when he produced conclusive proof
Of reformation; and the single OF
fender should, he thinks. except il
rare instances, be dealt with outsid
t |of' prison walls. He says:
"The problem of crime is in no wa
8 an insoluble problem of human sc
. tciety, though. perhaps, a certai
r lamount of occasional and accidenta
: lcrme will always exist. The solutio
of tho problem demands that ma
I should secure the same mastery owe
t his social environment and over b,
y Imam nature that he has already pra,
s ltically achieved over physical nature
q and the gradual development OF th
e social sciences will certainly max
: this possible some time In the I,
Iture."
=. Other social problems in which Do
y tor Ellwood is especially intereste
d lare those of the modern family, {
e Immigration, Of the negro and OF po'
d terty and pauperism. Marriage an
J. divorce are the family problems this
interest him most.
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