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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVII. No. 692 



compromise between these two sides at any 

 stage of instruction, and then to advance 

 from the learner's first standpoint toward 

 the pure method of the science, by stages 

 that shall keep the learner's effort at the 

 safest and steadiest tension, this is a prob- 

 lem which presents endless variations and 

 calls for the closest pedagogic scrutiny. 



In the second place, there is the scientific 

 treatment of the whole range of educational 

 procedure. The same science which is to 

 be present and influential in the teaching 

 of our pupils is to have a large part in the 

 training of their teachers and in the effort 

 of teachers and of educational theorists to 

 give new shaping and definition to the 

 whole work of education. Our educational 

 doctrine is quick to respond in these days 

 to promptings from the scientific side. But 

 here as elsewhere the severe standards of 

 scientific method are maintained only with 

 the greatest difficulty. In every border- 

 land between pure science and the things 

 that are keenly felt and valued in human 

 life, this difficulty rises to its highest pitch. 

 Education is a field in which the sense of 

 human values is intense, and it is accord- 

 ingly a field in which especial care must 

 be exercised to discriminate between sci- 

 ence and the shadow image of science. No 

 other educational organization, I think, is 

 so favorably placed as this education sec- 

 tion, to exercise that fine and severe dis- 

 crimination. It owes, accordingly, a sacred 

 duty to the educational interests of the 

 land as .well as to the great association of 

 which it is a part, to hold its standard of 

 scientific work up to the highest level. 

 This duty and this opportunity, more than 

 any other single thing, is its reason for 

 existing. 



The relations of the section to the council 

 of the association, under the well-framed 

 plan of this organization, must be of the 

 greatest significance from the point of view 

 of scientific standards. So, too, its rela- 



tions to other sections and to the affiliated 

 societies. For a century, more or less, edu- 

 cation has walked hand in hand with psy- 

 chology. This close companionship is un- 

 doubtedly to be strengthened and elevated 

 by these new opportunities of intercourse. 

 We may hope that both sides may be gain- 

 ers in this relationship. But there is no 

 one of the sections and societies in which 

 education has not a direct and vital in- 

 terest, and from all of them this youngest 

 section confidently expects to receive help 

 and stimulus. 



Moreover, while concerning itself with 

 scientific standards, this section will be re- 

 minded that the whole question of scientific 

 and pedagogic standards in our institutions 

 of learning is pressing for solution. It 

 can not be doubted that in many directions 

 our educational standards are too low. 

 They are also in a large part indeterminate. 

 To have its part in raising and defining 

 these standards is a high purpose which 

 this section may rightly cherish. It can 

 hardly be doubted that this is to be one of 

 the greatest tasks in our field within the 

 next decade. Our sense of its urgency is 

 quickened by the fact that we not only 

 need new standards at home, but we can 

 not be content to be in an attitude of mere 

 deference and acceptance as regards the 

 educational standards of the whole world. 

 "We must have our part in the main cur- 

 rent of world education and do our part 

 in the making of world standards. 



In the third place, there is the problem 

 of the organization of science and educa- 

 tion in their relations to government and 

 public policy. Tear by year governments 

 concern themselves more with the affairs 

 of peace and industry and the culture of 

 human character. Year by year, in both 

 peace and war, they put larger dependence 

 upon the knowledge of the scientist; and 

 education, with science and the arts, is its 

 main dependence in exalting peace above 



