The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-27
Liberal Viewpoint
By DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

TINE alleged suppression of a somewhat
i too radical report on the teaching Of the
social sciences in our schools and colleges, which
was prepared under the auspices of the Amer
lean Historical Association, gives interest and
timelneSs to important works on the social stu
dies and their relation to education.
The first step in building up a reliable and
impressive body of social science lies in the
mastery of the scientific and logical methods
and in the capacity to apply these social data.
Professors Cohen and Nagel have brought out
the most useful and impressive introduction to
logic and the scientific method since John Stuart
Mills System of Logic. Can Introduction to
Logic and Scientific Method. BY Morris H. Co
hen and Ernest Nagel. Harcourt Brace; $3.50
The work is especially valuable to social scien-
lists, in that more than half of it is devoted to
practical applications of logic and scientific
method in both natural and social science
Some American social scientists believe that
we have gone rather too far in attempting to re-
duce sociology to a pure science thus disparag
ing any effort directly to apply the subject to
social betterment. Among those who have pro-
tested against this vigorously scientific type of
sociology has been Professor Charles A. Ellwood.
TN the present work methods in Sociology, a
l. critical study, by Charles A. Ellwood Duke
University Press, $780, he reduces his OBJ
jections and constructive suggestions to sys-
tematic form It is probably the most resolute
and systematic effort Of recent years to COM
bine and harmonic the scientific and moralistic
points of view in social science The work con-
cludes with an eminently practical and useful
discussion of social progress and the ways in
which it may be advanced by rational education
Conspicuous progress has been made in every
field of sociology during the twentieth century
Professor Bernard has rendered an important
service to American education and social science
by inspiring and editing a thorough and COM
prehensive book on the various divisions and
methods of contemporary sociology (The Fields
and Methods of Sociology by l. L, Bernard
Long q Smith, $500 The sociologist need no
longer fear that he can be fairly denounced as
the fake professor Of pretended science'-a
charge leveled against one of the most famous
American sociologists quarter of a century ago.
Emile Durkheim today is recognized as not
only the greatest of French Sociologists of the
last generation. Mr.. Simpson has placed
SoclologlStS and educators in his debt by giving
us an excellent translation of Durkhems most
important contribution to economic and political
theory emile Durkheim on the Division of La
Dor IN Society," by George Simpson. Macmillan.
$3.50.
II ME body of the book treats Systematically
u the question of the division of labor, a prob
lem Which has intrigued social philosophers
since the time Of Plato The long preface pre-
SCENTS Durkhe1ms stimulating suggestions as to
political reconstruction along the lines of adj
illustrative syndicaliSm. Phiosophic students
Oh the new deal will find this an extremely rele-
want and suggestive volume.
Adult education is a particularly vital issue
right now. We need it to enable adults to catch
up with the rapid progress of education in the
last quarter OF a century and to give effective
training in the use of leisure Miss Kotinskv
has written one of the best introductions to the
problem of adult education in the United States
today adult Education and the Social Scene
BY Ruth Kotinsky. Appleton Century $l5O)
1t well presents the problems which will have
to be tackled, once the new deal enables the
mass of Americans once more to eat regularly
and to cover their backs
One reason that social science has made such
slight progress in affecting our life in society
has been that the social scientists have been
very largely occupied with denouncing each
other and selflshly defending each branch
against the other. DR.. Wilson shows that. at
least In the junior high schools, some progress
aaS been made in curbing departmental jealousy
and devot1ng the resource of the social sciences
TO rational education CThe Fusion of Social
Studies in Junior High Schools. Critical
Analysis. BY Howard E. Wilson. Harvard Uni
verslty Press. $3.50. The outstanding leader
in this work has been Professor Harold A. Rugg
OF Columbia university. 1t is time that our COL
leges and universities followed suit
Mr.. Shields is an alert young teacher who
IN the form of a vivid novel. makes vigorous
onslaught against educational conservatism and
economy Dust Plain Larnin'. BY James NJ
Shields Coward-McCann. $2). The book de-
serves wide reading in our present educa-
tional crisis
New York debs and their mothers PLAYED