CHAPTER I 

 THE MOTIVE 



There are two powerful instincts inborn in every child 

 that may be utilized by the school in directing his efforts. 

 These are innate curiosity and the social instinct. Through 

 the social instinct the child identifies himself with those about 

 him and feels his relationship to them. AU his acts and 

 thoughts have more or less a social bearing. He is greatly 

 influenced, often compelled, in his mental development by 

 the judgment of his associates, by public opinion. He 

 wishes to conform to- society. In its broad application this 

 instinct leads not only to the wish to know and do what 

 others know and do, but to the desire to harmonize with 

 society and sympathize with it, to be useful and to serve it. 



Every age is reflected in its schools. The ideals of the 

 school are largely the ideals of contemporary society. The 

 practical and scientific character of our age has necessarily 

 influenced education. So we find that the physical basis 

 and the scientific aspects of human society, and the in- 

 dustrial conditions and processes demand and attract the 

 attention of the schools. And one function of the school 

 is to fit the child for the social and natural environment 

 in which he is placed. This is often construed to apply 

 simply as a preparation for adult life. But the child 

 leads a present life of his own, during which he should 



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