CHAPTER IV.
THE MIND OF THE CHILD--CHILD PSYCHOLOGY.
One of the most interesting chapters of modern psychology is that which deals with the child.

This is also one of the topics of general concern, since our common humanity reacts with greater geniality upon the little ones, in whom we instinctively see innocence and simplicity.

The popular interest in children has been, however--as uncharitable as it may seem to say it--of very little service to the scientific investigation of childhood.

Even to-day, when a greater body of valuable results are being secured, the main danger to the proper study of the child's mind comes from the over-enthusiasm and uninstructed assurance of some of its friends.

Especially is this the case in America, where "child study" has become a fad to be pursued by parents and teachers who know little about the principles of scientific method, and where influential educators have enlisted so-called "observers" in taking indiscriminate notes on the doings of children with no definite problem in view, and with no criticism of their procedure.