Economy in education; a practical discussion of present-day problems of educational administration

Preface

This book is the third in the series of whicli " Psychology in Education " is the first, and " Method in Education " is the second. The purpose of the series has been to develop a consistent pedagogy, based both upon the physio-psychic growth of the pupil as an individual, and upon his functions as a factor in the social organism. The work throughout has been done in the light of current knowledge of individual and social growth, and has, it is hoped, been brought into accord with the safest theories and most productive practice arising out of that knowledge.

Education as a science is in its infancy, and no final word can now^ be written in any department of it. To reach fruitful results in the study of education the same thing is necessary as has been necessary to the upbuilding of any other science, namely, inductive work. The wait for trustworthy generalizations must be a long- one, for observation, comparison, experimentation not only must extend over long reaches of time, much longer than in the case of many other sciences, but they are all vitiated by elements over which the observer and experimenter can have no control. The problem, " Given, the boy and girl ; required, the properly educated man and woman," is complicated with more incalculable factors than any other problem awaiting solution at human hands.

It is urged that whatever in this book can be used, shall be the basis of further careful, continuous, experi-

4 PREFACE

mentation. Reading circles and pedagogy classes should select such matters as come nearest home to them and make of these a close, intensive study, using the material indicated in the copious references given.

RURIC N. ROARK.

State College of Kentucky, Lcxinerton.

Contents

PACE

Introduction 7

I. Organization and Management of the Individual