MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE FERTILITY OF GIFTED 357 



accurate to speak of birth control on a smaller scale — will slowly penetrate 

 amongst the middle classes and subsequently at a faster rate amongst the 

 labour classes. One cannot tell within how many years the latter will take 

 place, but it will not be for some time to come. The practice of birth limi- 

 tation is as yet far from general amongst all strata of the working classes. 

 It has only comparatively recently made its appearance amongst these 

 classes. 



15. This is the psychological moment to take measures to encourage the fe- 

 cundity of the gifted, now that in the strata of society in which there is the largest 

 percentage of gifted individuals, a probably slight increase in the birthrate is to 

 be expected. 



We now get a hearing in the higher social classes because their objections 

 to a larger family are not felt so strongly as before, and can even be said to 

 be non-existent in the case of a good many people. We must take advan- 

 tage of the change of thought registered in this class of the population, and 

 we must do so in two ways: 



(1) by guiding the increased birthrate into the right eugenist channels. 



(2) by stimulating it whenever it is desirable to do so from a eugenic 

 standpoint. 



16. The education of those who by virtue of their calling will in later years 

 be the advisers in matters of eugenics should aim at this. 



The training of medical men, theologians, lawyers, teachers, biologists, 

 psychologists still leaves much to be desired in this respect. Taking the 

 tuition of genetics and eugenics as given in Holland, for an example, I must 

 confess that the outlook is unfavourable for the education of the future so- 

 called expert advisers. 



17. One should, therefore, begin by changing the tuition at educational insti- 

 tutions in such wise that as much of genetics and eugenics is taught as students 

 will require to exercise their profession in a really satisfactory way. 



This tuition need not be so very extensive, especially not for lawyers, 

 theologians and men of letters but they should know something about the 

 subject. For medical men and biologists the tuition should, of course, be 

 more complete. Doctors in particular should know enough about it to be 

 able to give their patients scientific advice on marriage and pro-genetics. 



This more extensive tuition for future medical advisers and research 

 workers should also be given in the training colleges for teachers as the latter 

 should be capable of discovering the gifted children not only by their scho- 

 lastic achievements but also by means of tests. In order to fulfil this task 

 with zeal and intelligence, teachers should understand its full significance. 



18. The educated public should be properly informed of the importance and 

 progress of genetics and eugenics. 



