The expanding world of the child.

Abstract

(from the chapter) The essays in this chapter were discovered with the project files of the first major Canadian Longitudinal Child Study—the Canadian Mental Hygiene Committee Public School Project 1925—begun at the Institute of Child Study, University of Toronto. Found in an old brown envelope likely unopened since 1934, these writings speak with striking wisdom and understanding to a seemingly kinder, gentler, age than present; one filled with the confidence that, through knowledge, we could anticipate and experience a better spiritual and psychological life by the application of knowledge. The essays were written at the conclusion of World War I, reflecting confidence that a unified world, expressed in the League of Nations, could contain man's aggressive national drive and maintain peace—freeing the mind and spirit and ultimately leading toward an improved global civilization for all. Now thoughts could be turned inward, to dwell on ways to make the life of each individual happier and more creative. Dedication to a collective state could be replaced by an investigation of the psyche and the phenomenon of man's unique adaptability to his world. Unhampered by the complexities of a multicultural society, the authors confidently addressed a largely homogenous audience whose values and goals were a reflection of Toronto in the 1920s. Some ideas were radical for the era in which they were written, but are evidence of highly intelligent humanists whose insights about children's development and behavior in many ways remain unsurpassed today. Management strategies recommended to parents and teachers were based on observations of young children and dealt with universal concerns. Many truths researched by Blatz and his associates have now been absorbed into our culture, and the assumptions underlying their recommendations have proven amazingly well founded. The essays are offered here as a chance to examine the reasonings and share some insights of those who first explored the newly developing field of child psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (chapter)