PARENTS’ UNION

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22823, 23 September 1939, Page 2

PARENTS’ UNION

ADDRESS BY DR. H* E. FIELD ? “Psychology is a supplement to common sense—not a substitute for it,” said Dr. H. E. Field when speaking last night at the monthly meeting of the Parents’ National Educational Union. His subject was “Psychology and Education.” Psychology, he said, was a young science; the knowledge it sought was sometimes incomplete, even fragmentary, and it was, as yet, difficult to assess its' importance and true significance. But he claimed that there w as no doubt that psychology had something substantial to offer to those who Were concerned with education.

; A century ago, psychology was mostly of the armchair variety; modern psychology ’ was based on experiments carried out on a reasonable number of persons. Dr. Field detailed the nature and importance of intelligence tests; they were not infallible, but they were useful: the results of these tests should be interpreted and it should be realised that intelligence was only one of several factors that were important in building character. Other aspects of psychology included the study of the delinquent or maladjusted child. Investigation had proved, Dr. Field said, that potent causes of maladjustment were conflict in the home, especially between parents, methods of discipline—sometimes too harsh, sometimes extremely weak—habit training, deprivation of love, sentimentality on the part of the mother, over-anxiety on the part of the parents, and lack of satisfying outlets for the child’s activities and emotions. Seldom was maladjustment due to one cause; it was generally the result of a combination of circumstances. Of what use was the information acquired by psychologists, Dr. Field asked. It could, help parents and teachers towards an understanding of what might reasonably be expected of a child of a given age; it showed that such qualities as truthfulness, and steadiness must be inculcated gradually, as an orderly and reasonable developmental process and that discipline was one of the means of helping a child from inward stress at crucial stages. After the address, Dr. Field answered many questions. Mrs Peter Wood presided at the meeting, which was held at the home of Dr. and Mrs L. C. L. Averill, Bealey avenue. Dr. Averill thanked Dr. Field for his helpful address, and the hostesses, Mrs Averill and Mrs' Vesey Hamilton, entertained members 'at I supper. l ' Y.W.C.A. END OP FINANCIAL YEAR The annual report of the Young Women’s Christian Association states that the year ended with a surplus of £72 17s 3d in the working account notwithstanding rising costs. The ac-tivities-of the various clubs within the association show steady growth, and although none of them showed a. surplus, . the hostel yielded £270 14s 3d over and above working expenses. This surplus, with subscriptions, donations, and special efforts to raise funds, brought the associatipn out with a small surplus—the first for several years. The liabilities of the organisation are kept within due bounds by most careful management, and the association looks forward to enlarging its usefulness in these troubled times by providing for girls that background bf constructive thinking, right attitudes, and. safety of surroundings which are more than ever necessary. ‘ V ; V‘