University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-04-02
PRAISES E[tWOOD'S
BOOK ON SOCIOLOGY
Principal of Kansas City
Schools Says It's Best
Treatise on Subject.
sG0ES TO THE VERY CORE"
Thinks 1t Should Be Read
by All Intelligent Men
and Women.
e.GoEs TO THE VERY CORE"

]. NJ. Greenwood, principal of the
Kansas City public schools, has writ
ten a letter commenting on the re-
cent book of DIR. Charles A. Ellwood
on Sociology and Modern Social
Problems" The letter follows:
: Il wish to call attention to very
excellent and suggestive book just
published, entitled Sociology and
Modern Social Problems" by Prof
C. A. Ellwood, University of Missouri
At this time when there are so many
social enthusiasts rushing around
wanting to do something to better the
condition of other people, and they
hardly know what they are enthn-
siastic about, careful reading OF
this elementary book which deals
with such problems indnctively and
concretely will be helpful in setting
each social problem in very clear
light before attempting to solve il
without first knowing all the essen
tial factors involved. In unfolding the
laws and principles which govern So
ciety, the author bases his arguments
on the sciences of biology and psy-
chology, and on the physical and So
cial environment of human beings.
Need Of Scientific Study
The theory of betterment is made
to depend on life processes. He shows
the need of the scientific study OF the
conditions of society in order to elm
mate human waste, and what ele-
ments, through long series of years.
may be slightly modified and wha.
ones remain practically unchanged
To doctor society without understand.
ing its pathological conditions is ta
experiment in darkness, and most
frequently aggravates the very conGi-
tions that ignorant workers would
relieve.
At present the onward cry is "edG
cation,' but this can only contribute
its mite as a single factor in the pro-
cess. The author of this work fully
realizes the grave dangers in the-I
loosening of the home influences ard
relegating them to school teachers
The burdens of responsibilities of the
home can not be thus shifted. OF the
fifteen chapters in this volume of 33I
pages, two chapters are occupied in |
explaining the foundations of the |
science, and six in discussing the |
origin, development, structure and |
functions of the family, while the re |
naming seven chapters are devoted |
to the special problems such as immi- |
grafton, crime. poverty and pauper-
ism, the negro problem, the city, So
cialism, education and social pro-
gress.
Thoughtful, Helpful Work.
No one will. perhaps, agree in de
tail with all the author advocates or
the conclusions he deduces. Yet it is
thoughtful, helpful work. and one OF
the very best of it's kind that has
such a book as journalists, lawyers.
preachers, physicians, teachers, phi
lanthropists, and intelligent men and
women who are at all interested il
such subjects, ought to read. Every
chapter goes down to the very core
Of the matter of which it treats, and
in this respect one gets glimpses of
the complexity of the factors involved.
if not of a method of procedure tina.
promises fair results.
The best testimonial is the book it.
self. IT'S language is plain, the argu-
ments are drawn from many sources.
and indicate wide and discriminating J
research. No one can put it aside 1
without a feeling of larger outlook,
and mere sympathetic spirit for the
unfortunate ones of society. While the
outlook in some directions is not en-
couraging, yet some hope is left lin
gering in the mind 1t is really scien.
tific treatise, written in untechnical
language which carries one along
from chapter to chapter with an ever
increasing interest to the end of the
volume
While | have done mnch reading
along the lines treated by Professor
Ellwood, regard his book as the
very bes. for the general reader thai
has been given to the public since
huguste Conpte first coined thel..
word Sociology.