NURTURE AND NATURE 9 



In our investigation of the first and third points we are fortunate 

 enough to possess in each case two distinct sets of statistics, so I feel 

 I can speak with greater confidence of the results. 



In the other two cases we are dependent on one set of statistics 

 in each case ; for the influence of the occupation of the father we have 

 the Glasgow School Board statistics, and for the effect of environment 

 on intelligence, eyesight, &c. we have the Report of the Edinburgh 

 C.O.S. 



We will first examine the results that have been found for the 

 correlation between the employment of mothers .and the height and 

 weight of their sons ; and we must ask the reader to keep in mind 

 our problem, namely: Are the physical and mental characters of 

 children correlated with their or their parents' environment to a 

 higher, an equal, or a lesser extent than they are correlated with their 

 parents' physical and mental characters? 



The larger series of statistics from Glasgow is not really so 

 satisfactory as one might at first sight suppose, as it appears that 

 comparatively few married women in Glasgow have other than the 

 customary domestic work of their homes. 



Dr Leslie Mackenzie, in his report on these statistics, divides the 

 schools into four groups according to the districts in which the schools 

 are situated, and we have kept to these groups in working out the 

 correlation coefficients but have also worked the coefficients for all 

 schools taken together. 



Group A comprises schools in the poorest districts of the city. 



Group B comprises schools in poor districts. 



Group C comprises schools in districts of a better class. 



Group D comprises schools in districts of a still higher class, and 

 includes four out of five Higher Grade Schools. 



What then is the effect of the employment of the mother on the 

 height and weight of her sons in Glasgow and in Edinburgh? 



In the Introductory Note to the C.O.S. Report of the Edinburgh 

 children it is stated that the children come from a school in the poorest 

 part of the city, but that this school also has an admixture of the 

 children of the comfortable and respectable working class. 



Table I gives the correlation coefficients for the effect of the 

 employment of mothers on the weight and height of their sons, and 

 we notice : 



(i) That the employment of mothers is correlated to a small 

 extent with lesser weight of their sons, the coefficient being -12 for 



