Fairport High School - Hourglass Yearbook (Fairport, NY)

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0I lI ! THE HOUR GLASS l lI l0 A knowledge of psychology is indispensable in teaching, and, teaching is nearly indispensable as a means of training the un- developed mind. There are, however, limits to the application of psychology to education. Psychology is a generic science, while teaching deals with individuals. lt is also more or less theoretic, while teaching is unmistakeably practical. The forma- tion of character includes the cultivation of all the powers of the mind. The child begins to fix attention towards the effect of others' intellect upon him. Reflection of what he sees coupled with his innate tendencies forms his character. Let us consider the practical uses of psychology in education. Psychology is a systematic knowledge and investigation of the gensis, powers, and functions of the mind. Its use in education, or rather education's use of it, is to start to work those minds which otherwise fail to function without arduous conscious effort. There are different divisions of education. There is a physi- cal education, a moral education, and an intellectual education. Each one is important as a part of developing the well-balanced mind. But for our purpose, the intellectual mind is the one to be considered. There are several purposes of intellectual education. The principal aim is to form and develop the mind to the art of de- tecting truth froin falsehood. The foundational method used in intellectual education is instruction. The faculties must be ex- ercised by study, and teaching causes a pupil to study. It is not enough for a teacher to know his subject. lt is also necessary for him to know how best to impart this knowledge- to make it an article of use to his pupil. To make this possible he must know the mind, the pupil, and the method most adapt- able, to the pupil's use. Education should be pursued only after carefully consider- ing the end for which it is being sought. No one should be so careless as to rush into a college with the sentiment I want to come out of here educated for somethingf' It is the future environment that education, whether it be practical or theoretical, material or spiritual, must consider. The individual should be 'educated' to do many things well, interpreted in terms of a future environment. Educational values must have as their final justification an ideal. T Psychology is education, and education consists of psy- chology. Their relationship is so close that distinction is Page Fourteen

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0 THE HOUR GLASS l !l lO Thought creates character. Character can dominate conditions. A majority of our citizens and voters have not gone much, if any, beyond the sixth grade. Thus the problem of doing the most and best for the grammar school is one of profound na- tional importance for the safety and welfare of our country. Education gives an appreciation of the knowledge of health, of the arts, the sciences, and the finer ethics. The more that is put in the mind to enrich it, the largei store one has to draw from in later years. One of the most important aims of education is to aid in choosing a life vocation. lt trains us not only to carry out this work, but also develops our minds so we are fully capable to choose our life work. ln summing up the aims of education, there are these ob- jectives: a definite distinction between right and wrong, gained in the school of experience and contact with his fellow beings, a will power to make practical use of this knowledge, the desire to live a life that will bring others happiness, as well as himself, and make him stand out among his fellows as being possessed of those traits which are most indicative of the well-rounded mental education, manhood or womanhood, embodied with sterling character. -Leo Roesser The Psychology of Education Psychology may be a consideration of the mind as a whole, of the responses of the mind to outside influence. In reference to education, it is best to consider the different responses resulting from outside influence. The stimulants to the will are either pleasurable or painful. Sometimes they place hope before us, other times they place fear behind usfllf Education should place hope ahead of us, thereby making the road to culture a pleasant and desirable one. Education is the hardest and most difficult problem ever placed before man. To me, the meaning of education is a pro- cess necessary in order to learn how to develop character and to live in the full sense of the word. lVe acquire education in various ways. To the high school student undoubtedly the first thought is of the required assimulation of the facts we are taught. Thus we have the teaching phase as a vital part of education. 'R Conipaywi Psychology Applied to Education -Page 205 Page Thir-teen

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0 THE HOUR GLASS l ll lO blurred. Education develops the mind, but psychology is the science which shows us how the mind functions, and how best to accomplish its correct development. -Dorothy L. Mason English, the Medium of Expression It ismore important that people should be able to speak well than to write well. This is because they are continually talking but less frequently writing. A person is success in life depends upon his ability to speak well. Your friends do not have as much opportunity to judge you from your writing, as from your con- versation. In order to be an intelligent conversationalist, you must have a good idea of what you wish to say. This is gained by clear thinking. After you have an idea of what you wish to say it is then necessary to express yourself well. What is expression? Expression is the outward manifes- tation of an inward activity. It is physical and material in its result but mental and spiritual in its origin. An inward feeling inust exist before you can express yourself. It is impossible to express some idea that you do not have. If you are thinking about one thing and trying to explain another, you will have great difficulty in giving your explanation. It is necessary to con- centrate on the idea you are trying to put forth before you at- tempt to express it. If this is done, your impression will be so clear, that you can easily express your thought. However, often people who can not converse intelligently are able to write ex- ceedingly well. This is partly due to the fact that they are self- conscious and their powers of concentration are fixed on their appearance. This habit is a great hindrance to many public speakers, and is difficult to overcome. Again, expression is hard to attain because of the existing abnormal conditions of voice, thickness, or shrill tones. How can you gain expression? First, a good vocabulary is necessary. t'Thoughts and words are intimately related, states a certain writer. How true this is! If we were able to speak fluently and always pronounce correctly, we should be able to have one point in our favor toward good expression. Another necessary feature in expression is clear articulation. 'l' S. S. Colvin The Learning Process -Page 27 Page Fifteen