444 PUACTICAL AI'i'LlC'ATIONS OF MoDKltX PSYCHOLOGY. 



must be said also that it is hardly fair to jeopax-dise a boy's real 

 education by employing unsound methods in the hope of a moral 

 improvement , especially when all the moral training, esprit de 

 corps, initiative can be much better developed by such means 

 as compulso'ry games, physical training, cadet corps drill. 



It would also seem that psychology is going to solve the 

 vexed question of the method of imparting sex-instruction in the 

 home and in the school. Space forbids me to dwell on this, 

 beyond saying that the method is again an analytic one-starting 

 fi'OjH the universality of sex and leading through elementary 

 biology and zoology, on to human special reproduction. Among 

 other pressing subjects in which practical applications of 

 ])sychology are of proven value may be mentioned, the diagnosis 

 and cure of religious scruples, morbidity ; the method of native 

 education (on which Dr. Loram's book is a mastei*piece) ; and 

 the reforai of religious instruction of aboriginal people ; and the 

 vocationaj training of youth. 



In general education, further evidences of the value of prac- 

 tical psychology are seen in the inculcation of positive instruction 

 and discipline in place of the antiquated " negatives," re-arrange- 

 ment of the order of subjects in the time-table to minimise 

 fatigue, and allocation of the recreation time so as to revitalise 

 the fatigued mind. Discipline is being inculcated by a greater 

 trust of the pupils to do what is required, not to avoid doing what 

 is wrong : a wider freedom — freedom to use all their powers in 

 doing something positive, and a consequent higher sense of 

 honour. Sportsmanship, good-form, gentle-manliness become 

 more real forces as this wider aspect of discipline is taught. 



Towards the end of his school days, the boy will have to 

 think about his future career. Some have their profession chosen 

 for them ; the talented and the genius soon realise their vocation ; 

 and family tradition often decides the question. But there are 

 many to whom the lure of a big salary, the advice of well-mean- 

 ing friends, boyish hero-worship, are disastrous. They find them- 

 selves in uncongenial or " blind-alley " occupations. Much time 

 is wasted by those who must wander from one type of work to 

 another seeking their vocation, and by the poor employer who 

 must try to train many unsuitable candidates. There are a great 

 many youths even at our South African Universities and Colleges, 

 who have no idea of the kind of profession which will suit them, 

 and not a few find that they have misused three years in " study- 

 ing examination subjects " which they will drop as soon as they 

 leave college, and from which little or no mental development is 

 effected. 



Experimental psychology has made it possible for the sensi- 

 bilitj' and mentality of each person to be measured : and if the 

 methods of this science were utilised this wastage of time, money 

 and youth would be stopped. Such methods are known as voca- 

 tional tests ; and they lead us naturally to the brief consideration 

 of the applications of psychology in later life. 



