Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-03
"cHlLD MENTALITY"
Prof. r. H. Sylvester, Of State Univer
sity, Addresses Woman's Club.

Marshalltown Womans Club mem
hers had the opportunity Wednesday
afternoon of hearing Prof r. H. Syl
vester, of the chair of psychology Of
the State University of Iowa, speak on
Child Mentality" The program was
under the auspices of the nome ana
education department. of the club. OF
which Mrs. G. w. Darling is chairman.
Aside from the members who attended
there were present a great many
guests, including members Of the
mothers clubs Of the city.
Miss Ruth Greene, soprano. opened
the program with two delightful num-
bers. the aria from "Mignon," "Dost
Thou Know That Sweet Land" and
oft Have Seem" Miss Greene pos
sesses an unusually beautiful voice Of
high range, and her selections. to
which she added an encore. were great
ly enjoyed. Mrs. R. w. Doo!ittle acted
as Miss Greene's accompanist.
| In introducing his subject Professor
Sylvester spoke on the necessity OF
! physical health before mental health can
be considered. If child is i'll physi-
! cally he will also be mentally. Professor
! Sylvester said that he tested and
/ studied children, both normal and de-
| fective. in order to keep his viewpoint
well balanced, and he demonstra ted
his psychological methods to explain
| his work clearly. Different methods Of
examinations are used in testing the
childs mentality, corresponding with
the age of the child, and m this work
| Professor Sylvester used several of the
Binet tests.
| A class of children from to years
| y6~,, ,Io VT
! several were able to respond to tests
| for children several years older. These
tests were to show if a child We're
not in good mental health and if he
were hampered physically. In connec-
ton with child's physical health Pro-
fessor Sylvester told of the disastrous
effect adenoids have on a childs men
/ tally. He next spoke of child s
| environment. saying that too much en-
tertainment was bad for children, as
| it made them dependent and in many
cases backward, as they depended too
much upon others. He also spoke on
the discipline of children, explaining
how some are too rigid and some too
! lax. In speaking Of the cnilds diff
| ficulties in school Professor Sylvester
attributed great part Of 1t to children
| being started in school when too young.
| He said that some children who were
apparently dull were really naturally
+! bright and intelligent, and that often
mere babies were found in the primary
grades who were not capabl of follow
/ ing the work or of concentrating their
minds, as they lack the power of at
! tention. In starting a child when a
mere baby he may be good for few
grades, but will naturally miss many
important things and in missing a
good foundation his entire school ca
reer may be ruined. The parents were
therefore urged or warned to wait un-
til the child is out of the baby state.
! Some children are ready tor school
at the age of 5, while others are not for
a year or two later and that the great
est change in a child's mind is from )
to years. In closing Professor
Il Sylvester spoke on the nervous child
and children who have tendency to-
ward insanity, btoh Of which, when
treated in time, are durable. The en-
tire talk and the demonstrations were
extremely interesting and instructive
to Professor Sylvesters audience
h The guests from out of town who
were in attendance included Miss
Katherine Walsh, Of Kansas City, Mo. ;
Miss verna Willard, Of Marysville
fCaI.; and Mrs. C. z. 2arsaiou, OF Green
| Mountain.