one case of defect in a hundred will be discovered. The experience of people in the examination of eyes and ears has shown this. But unhappily many parents are apt to think that this interferes with their rights, or they are afraid that their children will be injured in some way. People are always hostile to any innovations of this character. There is hardly a city in the country where children's eyes and ears have been examined that teachers and specialists have not had to fight for the privilege. The attitude of the typical parent was illustrated last fall in a city which represents itself as progressive, when it was proposed to have examinations made by specialists of the condition of the teeth and throats of school children. So many parents sent in protests that the board of education refused to have the work done, though it was to cost them nothing. But there has never been an instance, so far as the writer is aware, of examinations having been made by properly trained persons, when parents have not been delighted with the results; and this fact should warrant those who know the necessity of it in urging its prosecution, even in the face of a good deal of opposition.

CHAPTER II

PROBLEMS OF DISCIPLINE

The "spoiled" child

WHAT is a "spoiled" child? The term is a relative one; it can not be well defined abstractly, other than to say that one who is constantly at odds with the people about him, or hostile to the rules of conduct of the society in which he lives is "spoiled." It is, though, a matter of degree; every immature creature is to a greater or less extent ill-adjusted to its environment. Maturity really means perfected adaptation. But here is a boy who would be recognized almost at once as a "spoiled" child. He is eight years of age, and there is no instance on record when he readily and cheerfully acquiesced in any suggestion affecting his action, and made by the members of his family, unless it happened to be exactly in the line of his desires. He is a bully through and through. He issues commands to those older as well as those younger than himself; and he is an adept in the use of a variety of arts, with which nature endows every child in greater or less degree, to get his mandates carried

into effect. The people nearest to him feel they ought not to "give in" to him, but they can not resist him effectually now. His expressions of anger when he is crossed are so violent and prolonged that they "get on the nerves" of all who hear or see him, so that they can rarely hold out to the end against him. Of course, this shows his natural shrewdness and perseverance,-estimable qualities if in their expression they could be brought into accord with the existing social order. As for willingly obeying any one, no such activities ever issue from his springs of conduct. His view of life, naïve, of course, is that people should serve him; that his desires should always be first considered. Nature endowed him with this disposition, and his trainers have brought nature to perfection.

The "spoiled" child is hardly ever a happy one

And what is the consequence? For one thing, he is very far from a happy child. He is in conflict with some one much of the time, because most people will not yield to him without a struggle. He brings upon himself a good deal of physical discomfort, because he will eat whatever he sees and wants, no matter what advice his elders may give him on the subject. He is undersized, partly, no doubt, because of his tempestuous, emotional life, and his bad hygienic habits. He gets on very poorly

in school, because he is not docile or teachable. He lacks the attitude of a learner. He is a boss, a bully; and bullies can not take lessons readily. They can not assimilate the experiences of others, as the school presents them; and so this unhappy boy is dull and behind his proper class. At the same time, the people who have to live with him are more or less miserable whenever he is in sight, since there is likely to be a clash at any moment. It is a thoroughly disagreeable situation all the way 'round.

Could it have been avoided? A young horse or dog is less well adapted by nature to live under domesticity than is a child, and yet horses and dogs are usually trained so that they adjust themselves very well to the existing order of things. And they probably get a good measure of happiness out of life, and give pleasure to the people with whom they have relations, because they early learn the lesson of ready adaptation. The problem of training the child is more complicated, but the principles involved are the same. Training always means just one thing, so influencing an individual in his intellectual processes, his moral tendencies, and his habits that he can adjust himself in happy relations to his environments, social as well as physical.

As we have seen elsewhere, nature equips the individual in considerable part-in largest part, no

Higher and lower doubt-for a simpler, more prim

tendencies in human life

itive, more egoistic, more impulsive life than he can live in contemporary society. But she also equips him with the possibilities of adaptation to complex social conditions; and training consists in strengthening the higher tendencies and weakening the lower ones. Fortunately the child is endowed with traits that we can utilize to accomplish our end. He is a "born imitator", and he is also very quick to discern what experiences will result advantageously and what ones disastrously for him. Animals are gifted with the latter trait, but not with the former to any extent; so that their training must be based wholly upon their desire to avoid pain and to increase pleasure. Make it clear to any of the higher animals that a given act-as when a dog barks at passing strangers-will bring disagreeable results always and inevitably, and he will sooner or later abandon the act, often even if it be deeply instinctive. And the animal will be none the less pleased with life on account of the sacrifice. There are, it is true, a few impulses so profound and urgent that they will be expressed even at the risk of forfeiting life in their gratification. But probably nine-tenths of all a dog's activities can be definitely and permanently determined by the simple method indicated,