AN EXPERIMENT IN EDUCATION. 377 



ber of inhabitants living in a drier atmosphere was at each census 

 comparatively trifling, numbering in 1870 less than half a million, 

 and in 1890 less than two millions. In the moister atmosphere 

 were found larger numbers scattered along the Gulf coast and 

 the shores of Washington and Oregon. The most rapid increase 

 has been found at the top and bottom of the scale, and particu- 

 larly in the more arid region, where the population has nearly 

 doubled during each of the last two periods,* showing that great 

 areas that are not particularly favored by the elements are grad- 

 ually being redeemed through the enterprise that marks our 

 modern industrial era. 



AN EXPERIMENT IN EDUCATION. 



By MARY ALLLNG ABEE. 

 FIRST PAPER. 



IN October, 1881, a primary department was added to a private 

 school in Boston, Mass., and the control of it given to me, for 

 the purpose of making an experiment in education. While it was 

 hoped the primary would sustain the usual relation to the higher 

 departments, the proprietor f guaranteed freedom of action for 

 three years, and generously furnished the means required. Grati- 

 tude is due to others also, especially to the teachers who assisted 

 in some part of the work. 



The aim of the experiment was to see if the child may not be 

 introduced at once to the foundations of all learning — the natural 

 and physical sciences, mathematics, literature including language, 

 and history — and at the same time be given a mastery of such 

 elements of reading, writing, and number as usually constitute 

 primary education. 



The experiment began with nine children between the ages of 

 five and a half and seven years. With scales and measuring rod 

 each child was weighed and measured, while such questions were 

 asked as — " Have yon been weighed before ? When ? What did 

 you weigh then ? How does your weight to-day compare with 

 that ? " The shyest children forgot they were at school, and chat- 

 ted freely while watching and comparing results. By questions 

 as to why a present weight or measure was greater than a former 

 one, the statement " Children grow " was obtained. Questions 

 about the causes of growth led to the statements " Children eat,'' 

 " Children sleep," " Children play." A question as to whether any- 



* See Census Bulletin No. 44. 



\ The name of the proprietor is withheld, in deference to a request made while the 

 experiment was in progress. 



