NEW HORIZONS FOR THE CHILD

By Stanwood Cobb '03. Washington: Avalon Press, 1934.

The theme of this book is "progressive education"—and my first thought is of the variety of interpretations one can find for those two Words. They mean something very definite to the author for he is the organizer of the Progressive Education Association (as well as author, school and camp director, etc.). But what of the student who came to my office the other day and wanted more information on a book discussing the psychological aspects of art; the book was picked up more or less at random and had stimulated him to the point of action. Perhaps this is "progressive education" and perhaps it is only another bouquet for the glories of Baker Library. The particular brand offered in this book, however, is a special kind. "Education in the light of modern Psychology can mean only one thing—the development of the individual child up to the capacity of its talents and abilities," says Cobb. This sentence suggests a broad interest in the topic; the activities of its author suggests a more specific task of salesmanship with parents as prospects.

A glance at the table of contents tells us of The New World, the problems of the child in it, the thinking child and the child of action, and character training to fulfill the promises of birth. Cobb fears that the now-popular "activity education" our old friend the project method—will fail to find the child who is more the thinker than the doer and thus fail to bring out his capabilities. He suggests that the thinking type will attain an equal footing with the motor-minded doer in our future society. Activity is effective; so also are ideas.

When a psychologist reviews this kind of inspirational propaganda he is tempted to be critically academic. It is facile to speak of the "new psychology of education"—but harder to know what such a term means, for there is no single new trend that can claim such a title. It is convenient to group personalities into activity and thinking types-but the facts do not warrant such a division. Of course this book was not written for psychologists to pick apart; it was written to preach a doctrine and this it does with enthusiasm, romance, and idealism. It is interesting reading. It will be well received by the same audience who found inspiration in the author's The New Leaven and Discoveringthe Genius Within You.