Museum of Natural History. 



Report of the Curator. 



To the Members of the City Library Association the curator 

 respectfully presents the nineteenth annual report of the Museum 

 of Natural History: — 



Extension of work along scientific lines has this year been in psychol- 

 ogy. By providing apparatus and a room in the Blake house, it has 

 been possible for the association to further Dr. George E. Dawson's 

 investigations of causes that lead to children's failures in their school 

 work. Such investigations in Springfield, undertaken at the request of 

 Superintendent of Schools, Dr. James H. Van Sickle, and gratuitously 

 by Dr. Dawson, began last October and have continued through the 

 year. Additional apparatus, provided by the school department, has 

 been installed in what is now a fairly well equipped psychological labora- 

 tory. Here, by appointment, teachers or parents bring children who 

 present problems of any kind that center in their education — whether 

 these problems grow out of mental backwardness, precocity, or speciali- 

 zation of ability. By physical and mental tests three lines of inquiry 

 are pursued: first, to determine the children that have mental defects 

 of such character as to make them unfit for the public school work, and 

 to indicate what care and training should be given them; second, to 

 determine the children whose failures are due to some physical handi- 

 cap and to suggest such home or school regime, or such medical treat- 

 ment, as may seem advisable; and, third, to determine the children 

 whose mental or nervous constitutions are not suited to the ordinary 

 school curriculum, and to suggest what modifications can be made in 

 their behalf. The children tested this year are as follows: — 



(a) School children referred by teachers 81 



(b) School children referred by parents 5 



(c) School children referred by probation officers 3 



Total 89 



With the year's work two free public lectures have been given, with 

 the general subject, ''Human Minds; Their Different Qualities and 

 Their Needs." The attendance at these indicated a keen interest in 



