RECENT ADVANCES IN SCIENCE 585 



Prof. Shelley on the play spirit ; the claims for folk-dancing 

 by Mr. Cecil Sharp ; and the demonstration by M. Jaques 

 Dalcroze by which he sought to illustrate his thesis that rhythmic 

 bodily activity is an essential factor in the training of an 

 intelligent appreciation of music, and a powerful weapon in 

 forging for the child a " vigorous and clastic body." At 

 the same time we have, closely connected with this, the cor- 

 relative realisation that the affective or emotional side of the 

 child needs its due meed of opportunity for development : 

 a realisation which embodied itself in the lectures by Dr. 

 Somervell, Mr. Barrett Carpenter, and others on the place of 

 the various arts in education. 



There is, moreover, a certain connection between the trend 

 of thought sketched above and the claims which were voiced 

 at the conference for a study of the child's unconscious mind. 

 Mere unthoughtful repression, or neglect of any one side of 

 the child's activity, can only — it is contended — lead to danger. 

 The better way was well illustrated (perhaps unconsciously) 

 in Mr. E. A. Craddock's exceedingly interesting paper on 

 " The New Discipline." In this he showed how he had been 

 able to convert the combative instincts, as exemplified in 

 competitive and sporting impulses, from an enemy to discip- 

 line into an ally to self-governed class-work — even in so un- 

 promising a subject as French irregular verbs. Bearing on 

 these issues were also Dr. O. A. Wheeler's able address on 

 " New Views of Human Personality," and Dr. Constance 

 Long's sane and temperate plea for a proper consideration 

 of the guidance and warnings afforded by the study of the 

 unconscious for all those, whether parents or teachers, who are 

 called on to give sex instruction. 



B. The second main current along which the conference 

 lectures seemed to align themselves was that concerned with 

 the social significance of education. In his inaugural address 

 the President of the Board of Education had spoken of the 

 war against " our ignorance " : and many of the lectures — 

 those e.g. of the Eugenic Education Society, and the admirable 

 course organised by the Infant Welfare Association and the 

 Civic Education League — were delivered in full realisation of 

 the dire consequences of that ignorance. Some other papers — 

 amongst them being Prof. S. D. Adshead's on " Environment 

 in relation to Civic Education," and Prof. J. J. Findlay's on 

 " New Projects of Education and Social Reform " — dealt 

 directly with the social questions involved in education. And, 

 of the meetings on Continuation Schools, the discussion on 

 " Education and Industry " opened by Mr. A. P. Fleming 

 and Mr. J. M. Mactavish was as much concerned with economic 

 principles as with education ; whilst the joint conference on 



