Backwardness in the basic subjects / by Fred. J. Schonell.

  • Schonell, F. J. (Fred Joyce)
Date:
1948
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Backwardness in the basic subjects / by Fred. J. Schonell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/598 (page 25)
    centration, persistence, or independence. ‘The school work of the unstable child is characterised by inequality of output, unfinished tasks and careless inaccuracies. Amongst a representative sample of the population there appears to be about 8 to 10 per cent. of unstable members. Lastly, an additional variation that we find in this field of individual differences is emotional apathy. Emotionally apathetic persons are those whose emotional energy appears to be deficient. Their conduct is characterised by a slowness and sameness that makes them uninteresting and uninspired beings. ‘They show reliability but not originality nor initiative. In not a few cases they remain almost insensitive to stimuli that normally arouse full emotional expression. Thus we have in general emotionality a number of variations, some of which are extreme enough to be called emotional deficiencies. Of these extreme forms there are two, one revealing emotional weakness in control and the other showing weakness in expression, and in some cases in actual possession of the necessary inborn impulses. ‘The lesser variations known as instability are also manifested in two forms, instability of control and paucity of expression. It is desirable that the. teacher should take accurate note of the emotional variations that exist amongst his pupils, particularly with regard to over- and under-development of certain instinctive and emotional characteristics, since appropriate lines of conduct can be organised accordingly. Compensatory activities can be encouraged where there is under-development or thwarting of an emotional tendency, while sublimatory influences can be brought to bear where there is superabundant expression of emotional energy of an undesirable kind. Not only is note of the variations in emotional traits important, but provision for adequate emotional expression through varied activities is necessary if control and correct attitudes are to be built up.