136 G. P. FRETS 



We cannot make of everybody what we should like to make of him, but 

 we can try to help everybody to make the best of that which is born in him 

 in so far as favourable factors are concerned, and by careful guidance, 

 by a good choice of circumstances we can try to prevent unfavourable 

 factors in the nature from manifesting themselves. Therefore, if we are 

 conscious of the relative inadequacy of these efforts, we shall attain most of 

 the value of the ideas of genotype and phaenotype. 



Eugenics, pointing to the results of scientific research, rejects the idea 

 that all people are born alike, and that therefore the same is attainable for 

 every one. 



On the other hand it also condemns the one-sided placing of hereditary 

 ability in the foreground, thereby promoting too strongly a segregation of 

 pupils and a too strong certainty of the possibility or the impossibility of 

 the attainment of results. 



Eugenists as appliers of science must also take into account that every 

 science as a scientific doctrine is one-sided. Galilei said: "A doctrine dis- 

 appears, science progresses." Neither will Mendelism be the last word 

 in the science of heredity. 



The point of view which eugenics adopts, regarding education in conse- 

 quence of the mendelian principles of heredity, is also therefore for a good 

 part the point of view of common sense. Common sense is, as a matter of 

 fact, also prepared to take the inherited nature into account. Like father 

 like son. Public opinion does not take this idea sufficiently preventatively 

 into account. 



With this we have returned to our starting point. Does eugenics choose 

 for Schopenhauer or Bergson? It leans more to Schopenhauer. 



In our era of the development of the community we may emphatically 

 point to the significance of heredity, therefore, with respect to education, 

 to the importance of natural ability. 



In the second place we have put the question: How shall we educate the 

 population in eugenics? 



The answer is: By teaching them to take an interest in hereditary 

 phenomena. 



We will advocate that every individual provide himself with a life history 

 book. In that way everybody's interest will be directed to heredity. Also 

 in this way important material will be obtained for the study of heredity. 



Another important point: In every country a state institute must be 

 founded for the investigation of heredity in man and eugenics. Several 

 similar institutions already exist. Pioneer-work in this domain is being 

 carried out in the United States of America. During the last year there 



