The Scientific Basis of Education

The peculiar power of the successful teacher consists in an ascendancy over the pupils’ minds; without such ascendancy he cannot succeed, however great his learning, or however excellent his intellectual system; with it, he will succeed, though his attainments be limited and his system crude. For every teacher knows how to acquire the knowledge he is to impart, and can conform to a prescribed system; but how intelligently to open and hold the minds of the children so that they will take it in, this is the difficulty.
The object of this treatise is to describe, with special reference to Education, the phenomena of human life as manifested in the physical organization, the functions of the senses, the consciousness of children, and the experience of the teacher; so that you may perceive the conditions upon which this intelligent ascendancy depends.
So far as the teachers are able to make practical application of the principles discussed in this book, they will tend to increase the ability, diminish labor, conduce to actual success and professional advancement, and enhance rewards.
The suggestions contained in this book will tend to promote the cause of Education, chiefly by promoting the material self-interest of the teacher.