Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/89

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SOME DEMANDS OF EDUCATION UPON ANTHROPOLOGY 73

products of the epochs only. The teachers who are working out these new and original methods are greatly handicapped by the lack of available data concerning the periods in question, even from the standpoint of adult activities. To such, an anthro- pological history of childhood, or, a series of type studies of child life among representative peoples in the different stages of race development^ would be a veritable boon. At present the teacher who is trying to work on such original lines must either be a specialist in anthropology, which is hardly likely, or she must manufacture facts in the absence of reliable data.

But the organization of anthropological material would have a value more far-reaching still. Sociology and economics, until recently confined to the college or the university, are claiming a place in the curriculum of the secondary schools. But there is no reason whatever why a foundation of the most practical character for both sociology and economics should not be laid in the elementary school, by means of the lines of work suggested. Type studies of race development at its different stages, with emphasis on the social and industrial activities, would furnish the best possible means of interpreting modern conditions, and of appreciating the elements of value in social and industrial relations. With the teacher properly equipped, much could be done in the grammar schools, with but little additional effort, that must at present remain undone. Were the facts so organ- ized as to be accessible to the pupils through reading and reference work, even more could be accomplished. The needs may thus be grouped under three heads — those of the educa- tional specialist who needs a scientific treatment from the stand- point of principles ; those of the intelligent teacher who needs reliable and available data ; and those of the pupil who needs suggestive and interesting reading matter that will have a per- manent value.

Several attempts to collect anthropological material relating to child life have been made within the last few years, those of Ploss and Chamberlin being best known. Many isolated facts could also be collected from the general literature of the subject. The material already collected needs reorganization, however,