General Methods 81 



method is the proneness to answer the questions 

 that arise, instead of so arranging matters that the 

 pupil can succeed in finding the answers by his own 

 ingenuity and efforts, after the questions have been 

 clearly comprehended by him. Thus: Is there any 

 difference between the upper and lower surface of a 

 leaf? Has this difference anything to do with the 

 relation of the two surfaces to sunlight? These 

 questions can be answered by referring the pupil to 

 the leaf, and leading him to see the position of the 

 leaf on the plant, with reference to the source of light; 

 and then, comparing that leaf with a different leaf 

 having both surfaces equally exposed. The answer 

 in this case is not so important, educationally, as is 

 the power developed in finding the solution. 



7. THE CATECHETICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL 

 METHOD consists in asking questions, to be answered 

 by the pupil, orally; the aim being, (i) to test the 

 pupil's success in learning his lesson, (2) to develop 

 the subject in the pupiPs mind, so as to make the 

 relation of one fact to another clear to him. It is 

 self-evident that an opportunity for acquiring the 

 material for knowledge must be provided, before 

 such a test can be required. Furthermore, the facts 

 and the images of objects must be present in the mind 

 before that material can be developed into a consis- 

 tent whole. 



The disadvantage of this method is that it is the 

 easiest method for the teacher to adopt, requiring 

 least effort, least skill, and least preparation. Except 

 in metaphysics and higher mathematics, it is a vicious 

 method if allowed to usurp the place of all other 

 methods. Many teachers abuse it, by assuming that 

 what has never entered the child's mind through the 

 senses, or has no foundation in his experience, can, 

 nevertheless, be coaxed out of his inner consciousness 

 much as a system of logic is elaborated. 



