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By WILLIAM EDWARDS, M.A., Author of "Notes on British History." Crown 8vo, is. net each. Part I. B.C. 55 to A.D. 1485. Is. net. [To be published in September. Part II. 1485 to 1660. IS. net. [To be published in September. Part III. 1660 to 1815. IS. net. [To be published in September. Part IV. 1815 to 1880. [To be published subsequently. These Junior British History Notes have been compiled in order to lessen the amount of time devoted to the writing of notes from the teacher's dictation, and to enable more time to be spent in oral teaching. They are specially adapted for Junior Forms, and for the Junior and Preliminary Examinations of the Oxford and Cambridge Syndicates, the Central Welsh Board, the College of Preceptors, &c. RIVINGTONS' TEXT-BOOKS OF For the use of Schools in which Special Subjects Small fcap. 8vo. A CLASS-BOOK OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 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It contains the commonest words, phrases, and constructions used by Cæsar, and is confined to the Simple Sentence; it includes such points of Syntax as Apposition, Accusative of Duration of Time, Ablative of Quality, Dative used after certain Verbs, &c. It has both Latin-English and English-Latin Exercises, and the Grammar is summarised at the end. FIRST LATIN LESSONS. For the use of preparatory and all types of Secon- [Just published. The aim of this book is to teach elementary Latin to pupils of 11-12 by means of easy but carefully graduated Stories, Conversations, and incidents from Roman history, and by English Exercises based on the Latin text. INITIA LATINA. A Book of Latin Grammar, Translations, and A LATIN VERSION, 3s. 8d. net., post free By E. D. MANSFIELD. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. net. In use at Rugby, Winchester, Clifton, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Haileybury, Brighton, Eastbourne, Hull, Liverpool, Reading, Nottingham, Cardiff, Warwick, Norwich, Worcester, &c. 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HILLARD, D.D., High Master of St. Paul's School, London, and C. G. BOTTING, M.A., Assistant Master at St. Paul's School. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. [Lately published. GREEK PROSE COMPOSITION FOR SCHOOLS. By M. A. NORTH, M.A., and the Rev. A. E. HILLARD, D.D. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. A GREEK VERSION, 6s. 2d. net, post free from the Publishers only to Teachers. In use at Harrow, Winchester, Shrewsbury, Clifton, Haileybury, Wellington, Uppingham, Oxford, Cam. bridge, Dublin, Edinburgh, Stonyhurst, Glasgow, Aberdeen, St. Andrews, Dundee, Forfar, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, York, Leeds, Sunderland, Nottingham, Leicester, Bedford, Brighton, Canada, Sydney, &c. RIVINGTONS: 34 KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON THE ... OCCASIONAL NOTES. ... 649 'HE important deputation from the Secondary Schools Association that attended at the House of Commons on August 13, for the purpose of asking Mr. Lloyd George Taxation to exempt from taxation, under Part I. of of Playgrounds. the Finance Bill, any property in land held by endowed and other schools, obtained from Sir Robert Chalmers-who, in the unavoidable absence of Mr. Lloyd George, received the deputation-an important statement. Clause 25 of the Bill might be interpreted as exempting land which was occupied and used by schools for the purposes of playgrounds. This announcement, it is true, only half met the case of the deputation. As Sir William Anson pleaded on behalf of Eton and Harrow, public schools have recently purchased land for the sole purpose of keeping out the builder and securing for the school an enclave of open country. Whether rich foundations should not pay like private owners for such amenities is a difficult question on which Sir Robert Chalmers declined to pronounce any opinion. THE appearance of Dr. Arthur Evans as a candidate for the representation of Oxford University in place of Mr. Talbot is an event of political significance University and may lead to a highly entertaining Representation. triangular duel. With politics we are not here concerned, but the question arises whether this privilege accorded to our ancient Universities can be justified, whether it should be swept away as a pre-Reform survival or, as logic requires, be extended to the newer foundations. In theory it is justified (so were pocket boroughs) as providing safe seats for men of high academic distinction and general culture who would not otherwise be likely to find a place in Parliament; but in practice it has been found that University members are, as a rule, politicians distinguished only by belonging invariably to one party, and that, if the constituency is called upon to choose between genius and party politics, genius invariably goes to the wall. In the present case Dr. Evans announces himself as a University reformer, and his manifesto lays down what seem to us very sound principles of reform, but this is to him a secondary consideration. "The national issue comes first." It would be unfortunate if Oxford should choose a mugwump like Lord Hugh Cecil who knows nothing of University politics, but it would be a calamity were it at this crisis to elect a Free Trader. Is not this a reductio ad absurdum of University representation ? What better right have Oxford and Cambridge to a member than the Royal Society or the Athenæum Club? THE The Swansea Dispute. 'HE dispute between the managers of the Oxford Street Church of England School, Swansea, and the Borough Council of that town has advanced another stage by the unanimous judgment of the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Darling, and Mr. Justice A. T. Lawrence that the Board of Education is in the wrong. Notice of appeal was at once given. It is for that reason that we speak of this decision as one more stage in this lengthy dispute that has lasted since 1905. The borough of Swansea claims the right to establish one scale of salaries for provided schools and another scale for non-provided schools within its area. In Mr. Birrell's day the Board reproved the Swansea Authority, thinking apparently that a strongly worded letter of disapproval would bring the Authority to reason. Then, when the Oxford Street managers still complained, the Board sent Mr. Hamilton to hold an inquiry. Mr. Hamilton's report was adverse to the action of the Authority; but the Board, under Mr. Runciman, forwarded the report to the Swansea Authority with a covering letter nullifying its conclusions. The argument was that the Oxford Street School was not necessarily inefficient because the salaries paid were lower than those in the neighbouring schools. According to the judgment just given, the Board had no right to decide the question as to whether teachers could be procured for the Church school at a salary lower than was paid to teachers in provided schools. THE judgment also states that the Board neglected to decide the question whether the Authority had a right to discriminate between the salaries paid to teachers in provided and non-provided schools The Board's Position. as such. It is a pretty little squabble. The Board cannot send down a regiment of soldiers and terrorize the Borough Council of Swansea. Practically legislation is powerless without a strong public opinion in its support. The case will go before a court of appeal and may then be brought before the House of Lords. Before a final decision is reached the position in Wales may be changed by the disestablishment of the Church of England in the Principality. The feeling behind the Swansea Council is very strong and will not give way easily. Briefly, we suppose, it is this Certain privileges are accorded to non-provided schools by the Act. We are heartily opposed to the continuance of these privileges. Therefore, in the case of schools that insist upon maintaining them we will pay the minimum only towards their support. It is usual enough for an Authority to distinguish between Half-Timers. different schools and pay higher salaries here and lower ance at school recommends the discontinuance of this there; but it does not appear reasonable that a difference should be made solely on the ground that a school is, or is not, provided." The Board does not appear to have acted with any great courage; but we can only guess at the discussions that go on in the Cabinet, and, we repeat, an Act of Parliament cannot be enforced against a strong and united local opinion. Post Office Boys. services of a nature which is suitable for boys." The argument is, we suppose, that the services in question can be performed by boys at boys' wages, and that it would be economically unsound for the State as an employer of labour to pay men's wages for these services. We do not, of course, wish to argue that the State should retain these boys and pay them the wages of adults merely on philanthropic grounds. Such a suggestion is opposed to all commercial traditions in England. Yet there is a tendency nowadays to consider these questions not from the point of view of an employer, be he an individual or the State, but from the broader standpoint of the effect upon the nation. If it can be shown that any large number of boys, discharged because they are of the age to require the wages of a man, join the vast army of unemployed or ineffective citizens, it might prove cheaper for the nation to continue to employ them as messengers with adult wages. For the ineffectives are a very costly burden for the nation. They produce nothing, do no useful work, and yet are maintained in one way or another, in prisons, institutions, or by private charity. It might be cheaper in the end to pay them wages in excess of the market value of the work they do. THE HE Prefatory Memorandum to the Code contains a statement of the nature of a threat of loss of grant for Authorities that do not attain a fair standard of efficiency. This seems reasonable as a Inequalities in punitive measure; but threats from the Rates. Board are not all carried out at once, and there are several matters to be taken into consideration before we can arrive at a just judgment. In the first place, as efficiency is largely a matter of money, it is important to notice the produce of a penny rate per child. Some interesting figures on this matter are given by Mr. H. W. Household in Education. In Cornwall a penny rate produces, per child, a tiny fraction under 2s.; in Westmorland it produces 4s. 4d.; Middlesex produces a fraction less than Westmorland, and Wiltshire 2s. 7d. The variation in the other counties is considerable. Thus we have at start an important difference in income. Secondly, the cost of education varies with the size of the school. In Westmorland the average number per school is 70; in Middlesex, 290. It happens in several cases that the school areas with low returns from rates have small, and therefore costly, schools to maintain. Pending the greater equalization of rates, it would be more reasonable to give larger grants to comparatively poor areas rather than to threaten them with a fine. practice. It is, perhaps, not generally realized that the half-timer has still a widespread existence. In general, the law supposes that all children will attend school until they are fourteen years of age. The actual exemptions allowed are as follows: an Authority may make a bylaw allowing partial exemption for children between the ages of eleven and thirteen who are employed in agriculture and who make 250 attendances during the year. At the age of twelve a child may claim partial exemption under the Factory Acts, or total exemption under certain conditions. Other Authorities allow of total exemption after the age of thirteen. The Report states that this system has become engrained in the habits of the people and it would not be wise to change it suddenly; that due notice should be given, and that existing half-timers should be allowed to continue as they are. But the Committee strongly recommend that eventually the system should be entirely discontinued, that the minimum age of total exemption should be not below thirteen, and that it should only be granted for the purpose of necessary or beneficial employment. They further recommend that the condition of total exemption should be attendance at an evening continuation school. 66 London Children. THERE are some 800,000 children in the London elementary schools. If it be assumed that about 100,000 of these are taken to the seaside by their parents for a summer holiday, and if we add to these the 70,000 that are sent away by the various philanthropic agencies, we have considerably more than half a million children in London whose playground for the whole of the summer holidays is the street, or in some cases the public park in the neighbourhood. We quote these figures from a leading article in the Times. The writer goes on to say:— It is really an amazing thing that more is not done, in the general interest of society at large, for these children of to-day, who will be the men and women of to-morrow. Both political parties seem to think that their duty is accomplished when they have provided school buildings and a system of elementary education." We believe we are stating the fact when we say that ten years ago the Times and the interests it represents regarded proposals for giving children anything beyond the elements of a book education as a form of socialism to be rigorously opposed as a menace to the nation. To us this broadening of sympathy is very welcome. It is what we have preached in these columns for many years. Call it socialism or what you will, we are convinced it is for the nation's welfare that every child should have a chance, as far as can possibly be ensured, of fresh air, suitable food, and healthy surroundings. THE The Joy of Movement. HERE is a real truth contained in George Meredith's description of Jump-to-Glory Jane. That the Board of Education have got hold of this truth is evinced in the Revised Syllabus of Physical Exercises, advanced copies of which have just been issued. Physical exercises, properly carried out, as the Prefatory Memorandum points out, develop in children a cheerful and joyous spirit and a feeling of exhilaration that go far to produce the ancient ideal of mens sana in corpore sano. But it is of the first importance that the exercises should be enjoyed, that they should be of the nature of recreation; also that they should be chosen with the expert knowledge that will prevent the danger of overstrain. The natural activity of children is restrained by the formal conditions of school life, with its necessary accompaniment of large classes and strict routine. The Board is now convinced that not only must the body be well nourished, but also that it must be properly developed if good mental results are to accrue. A special course of instruction is being organized for the staffs of certain training colleges. The Syllabus is based upon the Swedish system: it contains instructions to teachers and advice to Education Authorities. So soon as it is issued to the public it should be carefully read by all teachers. THE aching desire of English people to alter and, as China. they hope, to improve the lives of others is well exemplified in the scheme that has been set on foot for the establishment of an English UniUniversity in versity in China. Lord William Cecil and his wife have made a long tour in China for the express purpose of studying education and seeing how far the time is now ripe for an attempt to introduce Western methods of study based on Christian principles. According to the account communicated to the Guardian by Mr. Fletcher Fullard, China would welcome the provision of a University on English lines. It is, therefore, proposed to build and establish a University upon the model of Oxford and Cambridge, with a central body of professors, and hostels in which students would reside under discipline. It is estimated that £10,000 would give a fair start as regards buildings and plant, while another £10,000 would provide houses for four professors, and a house for four bachelor professors could be built for £1,500. An additional sum of £4,200 a year would be required for salaries. Thus the sum of £50,000 (we quote from the Guardian) would cover preliminary expenses, and an annual income of £5,000 would maintain the University, as general expenses would be met by the fees of students. A Committee, headed by the Marquis of Salisbury, has been formed to collect the funds and to carry out the proposals. Medical Inspection in Northamptonshire. LOCAL AUTHORITIES. WE have just received the First Annual Report on the Medical Inspection of Children in Public Elementary Schools in the County of Northampton during the year 1908. The Act dealing with medical inspection came into operation at the beginning of 1908, but, owing to the delay incidental to the appointment of a medical officer and to the fact that the officer first appointed resigned immediately on getting an appointment that he preferred elsewhere, the actual work of inspection did not begin until October. A beginning has therefore been made, but sufficient work has not yet been done to enable any useful lessons to be drawn as to the healthiness or unhealthiness of the Northamptonshire children. The officer appointed, Dr. H. L. P. Hulbert, had been previously engaged in the same work in Manchester, and was able to make use of the experience gained in that city. It was arranged that brass height standards should be placed in each school and that weighing should be done by means of portable machines suspended from a hook screwed into the lintel of a doorway. Eyesight was tested by Snellen's types. Record boxes were provided for each school, and record cards upon which the whole results of successive school examinations could be recorded. A RECORD card was drawn up for children specially presented by the Co-operation of Teachers, Parents, and Managers. head teacher. A circular was sent to the schools indicating to the head teachers that the success of the inspection would largely depend upon their active co-operation. Certain information could only be given by the head teacher; other particulars would in future be noted by the head teacher on the child's entry into the school. During the inspection of boys the head teacher would need to be present; and the presence of a woman teacher was indispensable during the inspection of girls and infants. In addition, the parents only could be present. To them a card of notification was sent, pointing out that they might attend the examination if they wished. Another notification card was provided to be sent to parents in special cases, informing them of the discovery of some defect in the child and ending with the words: "It is important to the child's welfare that you should obtain medical advice without delay." Managers were also informed of the inspection and had an opportunity of conferring with the medical officer. Special cases can in this way be brought to the notice of managers who may be able to help parents to obtain the necessary medical treatment. One paragraph of the report shows how valuable to the teacher is the medical opinion. It is: "There can be no doubt that some of these children have been punished at school for defects over which they have little more control than over the colour of their eyes and hair. This will now cease, and punishment be confined to measures necessary to keep them under control." Leicestershire. THE Director of Education, in the last quarterly report of the Leicestershire County Council, points out that the changes in staffing necessitated by the new Code will not affect more than half-a-dozen schools in the county area. With regard to the grants, he estimates an increase of over £1,000 a year under the new scale of 13s. 4d. for scholars under five years of age, and of 21s. 4d. for those over five. With regard to the duties of head teachers, he quotes a paragraph from the Prefatory Memorandum of the Code which may well be impressed upon head teachers throughout the country, especially those in towns. The Board think that if it proves necessary, under the new staffing arrangements, to call upon the head teacher to take a more active part in teaching than heretofore, benefit will result to the school. "It is impossible for a head teacher to maintain his efficiency, even in the supervision of the work of his assistants, unless he regularly devotes some of his own time to actual teaching." It is equally important, as the Memorandum points out, that the older scholars should be given opportunities for independent work. While the scholars in a class are working by themselves the head teacher will find time for his duties of supervision and The administraorganization. This is the rule in secondary schools. tive head master, the product of the School Boards, is an educational error. Needlework in Wiltshire. WE have received from the Wiltshire Education Authority the Directory for Higher Education, the Handbook for Elementary Education, and the Minutes of the recent meetings of the Committee. The point we pick out for treatment in this column is an exceedingly interesting report by the Board of Education expert on the needlework of the elementary schools in the area. Speaking generally, and with, of course, reservations in reference to certain schools, it seems that there is great scope for improvement in the teaching of needlework. In the first place, the equipment is often inadequate-one pair of scissors per class, one cutting-out table in a school. These and similar deficiencies only need to be pointed out in order to be remedied. A more serious matter is the want of trained teaching. It is reported that many of the teachers had no practical knowledge and were unable to give a demonstration lesson. At the same time the position is encouraging, as the teachers are said to be anxious for information and help. The report is very full and runs to several thousand words. It abounds in helpful criticism and wise suggestion. The ultimate cause of the trouble is the old story-the worship of book learning in the training colleges. Needlework is an active occupation that rouses the interest of the children and is of real use to them. But it must be taught by women who have learnt its value by practical experience, and who do not have to refer to the text-book to find out what is the next step in the operation. Staffordshire. THE Directory for Higher Education issued by the Staffordshire Committee contains a full account of the privileges open to residents in the county. It should be widely circulated and read with care. In addition to the technological instruction in mining, pottery, leather, silk, glass, &c., we are glad to notice that lectures are given on the health and care of infants. This is an important side of the work that the Education Authorities are doing to promote the health of the children within their areas. In due time these lectures may no doubt be combined with the work of medical inspection and with the appointment of Health Visitors. An addition to this year's Directory is the award of a Diploma in Pottery to students who qualify in the examination. The subjects are theoretical and practical chemistry, heat, electricity and magnetism, applied mechanics, practical mathematics, theory and practice of pottery and clay-working, analysis of clays and potters' materials. In order to encourage gardening, the Committee have established demonstration plots in allotment gardens and model cottage gardens in villages. In the latter case the Committee's instructor plans the garden and supplies fruit trees and other requisites. The owner must carry out instructions and give his labour in return for the garden produce. He also pays rent and provides manure. Finance THE Education Committee of the county of Warwick report, among other matters, that they have carefully gone into the in Warwickshire. question of school management in order to see how far it is possible to accede to the resolution of the County Council by which the education estimates were reduced to the extent of £1,400. After going into cases of salary in detail, they come to the conclusion that they require at the very least an additional sum of £1,035 for the remainder of this year, and a sum of £1,727 for a full financial year. In reference to medical inspection, the report says:"We have been asked by the managers of one school to communicate particulars of the medical inspection at that school. We do not think it advisable that such details should be supplied, as it is in our opinion important that parents should understand that the inspection is strictly private. It is a sound line to take that the inspection is private; at the same time it might be useful to arrange, as is done in Northamptonshire, that managers might confer with the medical officer and learn if there is any case in which they might help the parents. There might be cases where the managers would make indiscreet use of the information supplied, but the disadvantage of this would probably be outweighed by the advantages arising in special cases where managers might help parents to get the necessary medical treatment. IN reading the report of the London Education Authority upon Industrial and Special Schools, we are reminded Industrial Schools in London. of a cartoon that appeared not long ago in Punch. A decent-looking small boy is depicted as asking the Home Secretary to give him an industrial training. The reply is to the effect that when the boy has broken the law the Home Secretary will see what he can do. According to the report before us, the fate of a child sent to an industrial school is a happier one than that which befalls many a child brought up in the poorer districts of large towns. Nothing can make up for the loss of affectionate care in the home during the early years of childhood, but a large number of children meet with neither affection nor care at home. In these cases the State is a good foster-mother by comparison. We read in the report that, although the children are backward when they enter the industrial schools, yet the opinion of the Board's inspectors is that a high standard of efficiency is maintained. At the same time the children are learning a trade and, in the words of the report, "a healthy spirit of rivalry in sport continues and is encouraged and fostered. Special attention is devoted to swimming, and proper provision is made for recreation generally." The After Careers of the Scholars. THE main difficulty is the disposal of the children at the end of the school period. The report says with justice :-"It is evident that the success or otherwise of the industrial school system must be judged chiefly by the results obtained, and must therefore depend upon the disposal of the children. The Council accordingly makes every effort to ensure that the children to whom it stands in loco parentis are placed out in life in such a manner as will enable them to become useful members of society." The best method of disposing of boys is to place them in Army bands, where they are still under discipline. Other openings are farm service and the sea. The latter service means a severe medical inspection, and consequently the number who can adopt it as a profession is limited. The Council has an agency at Grays in Essex for this purpose; but the home at Lowestoft, from which boys were drafted into the fishing smack service, has been closed. No boys will in future be sent into this service. For farm hands the Council has an agency at Llandilo in South Wales. The majority of girls are sent into domestic service. The most hopeful part of the report deals with the successes of past scholars, and with their affection for their school, with which they keep in touch. Officers appointed for the purpose look after the boys and girls as far as possible until they are definitely established in life. Grammar School. A NEW School has been built at Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, for boys and girls, at a total cost of about £10,000, exclusive Ashbourne of the site, which cost £2,000, and consists of about 8 acres of land. The accommodation is for 190 pupils, but is so arranged that an extension for a hundred pupils can be built at a comparatively small cost. The present cost works out at about £60 per school place (including cost of site). But this figure would be considerably lowered if the additional classrooms to hold a hundred more pupils had been built. The Derbyshire County Council are paying a third of the total cost, the rest of the money being found by the governors. The building is of stone brought from neigh bouring quarries. The rooms are heated by low-pressure hot-water pipes, and have, in addition, open fire-places. The basement contains special drying closets for clothes that are thoroughly wet, but all the cloakrooms are heated by pipes running under the pegs. There are also several small private changing rooms for girls and boys. There are rooms for the head master, the governors' clerk, assistant masters, assistant mistresses, and pupil-teachers, boys and girls. The cookery room and workshop are each in a separate block, joined by covered verandas to the main block. A large fire-proof strong-room has been built for the security of documents belonging to the governing body. The architect is Mr. E. M. Longsdon, of Bakewell. The school will be opened in September. SCIENCE NOTES. THE Report of Science Teaching in Public Schools represented on the Association of Public School Science Masters, Public School Science. edited by Mr. O. H. Latter, of Charterhouse, and published by the Board of Education (4d.), is a statement of facts the usefulness of which is somewhat restricted by the smallness of the number of schools supplying information-forty-six useful replies from seventy-one schools. In these forty-six schools 61 per cent. of the boys are at the moment studying science; but it is esti mated that 90 per cent. are compelled, at some time during their school course, to take a longer or shorter course of science. Another interesting fact is that mathematical laboratories are in existence in five schools, biological laboratories in ten, and engineering laboratories in two. About half the schools give an introductory course of Nature study before proceeding to formal mensuration. It is difficult to draw any conclusions as to methods from the opinions quoted. Both the individual and class methods for practical work have strong advocates. One is impressed throughout by the great variety both of method and objective. No attempt has been made to estimate the results attained -the public schools never criticize themselves. The reports of examiners would have supplied abundant material for the purpose. Again, a few questions in regard to the masters might have been considerede.g., what their training has been, how many carry on any private research, to what extent they specialize in subjects and in advanced or elementary work, the correlation of the work of mathematical and science masters. Great Men. PROF. OSTWALD, the distinguished physical chemist, has devoted his leisure in recent years to the study of compara tive biography, and has published the results in a book entitled "Grosse Männer." He set himself the important question-or, rather, it was posed by one of his Japanese students-how can budding genius be recognized? His main conclusion, which most schoolmasters will confirm, is that the seeds of genius are not to be found in the industrious, methodical plodder, but rather in the erratic student who resents formal methods. Another observation is that men of genius are mostly drawn from the middle classes of society. Exceptions to this rule are confined to England and France Boyle, Cavendish, and Lavoisier being instances of aristocratic men of science, and Faraday being a bright example of a proletarian. As a rule, the man of genius attains maturity at an early Thus Newton was famous before reaching the age of twentyIn view of this, Prof. Ostwald is opposed to the prolongation of school life. He suggests, with some truth, that men like Kelvin and Leibniz, under modern educational conditions, would have been seated on school benches at an age when, as a fact, they had already attained to prominent positions in science. age. five. IN these Notes for July we drew attention to the need for a popular exposition of the science of eugenics. There has Eugenics. recently been published by Messrs. Dulau, at Is. net, a lecture by Prof. Karl Pearson, entitled "The Problem of Practical Eugenics," which will serve admirably to give the layman an idea of the results which are being obtained from the study of National Eugenics as carried on in the Galton Laboratory in the University of London. Prof. Pearson, in this lecture, shows in curves the birth-rate for married women (for ages fifteen to fifty-five) for a number of counties and larger towns. The general similarity of the curves is striking, there being in all cases a steady decline, beginning in the 1870-1880 period. In the case of Bradford, the amount of this decline is indicated by the fact that at the present time every married woman of child-bearing age has a child in the average once in ten years as against a rate of one in five years sixty years ago. And it is not simply a question of the number of children born; the quality of the children is also affected. A lower birth-rate means smaller families, and, as it is found that neurotic, insane, tuberculous, and albinotic children are more frequent among the elder-born, smaller families mean a lowering of the standard of health and efficiency in the children. |