The Chairman: Some States are so fortunate as to have at the head 

 of public education a university. Wisconsin is one of those States 

 which enables instructors in the university to carry their ideals down 

 into the public schools pretty effectually. Professor Marlatt will tell 

 you of the work in that State. 



"HUMANICS" 



By Prof. ABBY L. MARLATT, Department of Home Economics, 

 University of Wisconsin 



In any study of human conditions as affected by social forces 

 there must be, as a foundation, a working knowledge of the 

 laws of biologic science, hence what is called in the University 

 of Wisconsin a course in "Humanics" is offered to students who 

 have had general courses in chemistry, physics, biology, bac- 

 teriology, physiology, food chemistry and dietetics. 



From study of the needs of woman in her attempt to solve 

 some of the problems met in the making of a home and rearing 

 of a family it seemed wise to focus in one course such discussion 

 as might lead to a wiser understanding of the fundamental laws 

 of heredity and environment, as typified in the human race. 



Beginning with a review of the life processes involved in the 

 division of the cell which forms from the unicellular parent the 

 new organisms which continue in themselves the old without 

 changes; through to the factors which enter into the complex 

 cell life of the higher life forms, the forces which make for 

 change are discussed. 



Historic theories of heredity are read and modern data which 

 have lead to the re-discovery of Mendelian laws are discussed 

 in their bearing on plants and lower animals. What data in 

 history of the human race that bears upon these facts are studied 

 without prejudice? Studies of Hav clock Ellis, Galton, Pearson, 

 medical and criminal records, all are bases for study in the huge 

 problem of the germ-plasm as influenced by alcoholism, drug 

 habits, insanity and the social evil on one side and so-called 

 genius and "family" on the other. 



The growth of the child after birth, the factors which help 

 and hinder more nearly normal development with the compara- 

 tive study of childhood in historic races are bases for discussion 

 of infancy, its care and protection ; childhood and its freedom 

 from nervous strain of overwork; adolescence with its training 



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