=Needs of society.=--True, the individual will find life more agreeable
in society if he understands the common language, just as the traveler
is more comfortable in a foreign country if he understands its language.
But we need emphasis upon the statement that we have grammar in the
school because it is one of the needs of society. The individual may not
need chemistry, but society does need it, and the school must somehow
provide it because of this need. Hence we place chemistry in the school
as one of the ingredients of the solvent which we employ in the process
of rectification. Those who are susceptible to the influences of this
ingredient will become inoculated with it and bear it forth into the
uses of society.
=Caution.=--But just here we find the most delicate and difficult task
of the school. Here we encounter some of the fundamental principles of
psychology as explained and emphasized by James, McDougall, and Strayer.
Here we must begin our quest for the native tendencies that condition
successful teaching. We must discover what pupils are susceptible to
chemistry before we can proceed with the work of inoculation. This has
been the scene and source of many tragedies. We have been wont to ask
whether chemistry will be good for the boy instead of making an effort
to discover whether the boy will be good for chemistry--whether his
native tendencies render him susceptible to chemistry.
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