P.N.E.U. Notes.
Edited by Miss Frances Blogg, Sec., 28, Victoria Street, S.W.
Volume 7, 1896, pgs. 398-400
To whom Hon. Local Secs. are requested to send reports of all matters of interest connected with their branches, also 30 copies of any prospectuses or other papers they may print.
The Library Committee acknowledge, with many thanks, the gift of the
following books by their authors:--
"History of European Morals." W. E. H. Leeky, M.A.
"In the National Gallery." Cosmo Monkhouse.
"Exercises in the study of French." Brandon and Duriaux.
"Some medical aspects of Education." Percy Lewis, M.D. (pamphlet).
Also of the following:--
"L'éducation progressive" (Madame Neckar de Saussure); "Lettres
de famille sur l'Éducation" (Guizot); "Notions de
Pédagogie" (Joly); L'éducation morale" (Pérez);
"L'enfant de trois à sept ans" (Pérez); "Leçons de
Psychologie" (Marion), from Mr. Perrin.
"Outlines of Psychology" (Sully); "Physiological Psychology" (Ladd);
"Arnold's Rugby Sermons," from Miss Helen Webb.
"Natural Science and Religion" (Asa Gray), from Sir Thomas Dyke Acland.
"Words to Mothers," from Mrs. Whitaker Thompson.
"Forum" (95 and 96), from Mrs. E. C. Robins.
The following books have been purchased for the Library:--
"Psychology" (Lloyd Morgan); "Mental Development" (Preyer); "Senses of
the Will" (Preyer); "Development of the Intellect" (Preyer); "Education
from a National Standpoint" (Fouillée); "Philosophy of
Education" (Rosenkranz); "Education of Man" (Frœbel); "Manual of
Ethics" (Mackenzie); "Herbart and the Herbartians: (De Garmo);
"Education and Heredity" (Guyau); "Manual of Pedagogics" (Putnam);
"Theory and Practice of Education" (Thring); "Frœbel and Education:
(Bowen); "On Stimulus" (Sidgwick); "Praeterita," "Sesame and Lilies"
(Ruskin); "Education" (Spencer); "Parents' Review" (vols. 1, 2, 3, 4,
bound).
Belgravia.--An excellent address on "Language Teaching" (Gouin method) was given on Wednesday, May 13th, by Mdlle. Duriaux, and much appreciated by those who heard it. The lecture was given at 36, Grosvenor Street (by kind permission of Mrs. Burnet); W. Biddle, Esq., took the chair, and led discussion on the subject afterwards. A course of lectures on English Literature (1670-1700) is being given on Wednesday and Friday mornings. French classes (Gouin method) for children from six to ten years of age are being held at 21, Hyde Park Gate (by kind permission of Hon. Mrs. Muir Mackenzie) on Tuesdays and Fridays. Preparatory and advanced classes are held by Mdlle. Forckel at 152, Ebury Street. Classes for young children are being held for Brush-work, Modelling, and Basket-work, and Elementary Singing. Fortnightly classes for ladies for the practice of concerted music are held on Friday afternoons in Harley Gardens.
Hyde Park and Bayswater.--(Hon. Sec., Mrs. Franklin, 9, Pembridge Gardens, W. At home on Thursday mornings). June 8th. Miss R. Leney (ex-student of the House of Education) gave a demonstrative lecture on the "Teaching of Reading and Spelling to young children" (as recommended by Miss Mason). The lecture was held at 13, Campden Hill Gardens (by the kindness of Mrs. Devonshire). Mrs. Holroyd Chaplin in the chair. The audience were much interested. The branch was well represented at the conversazione on the 11th, and members were delighted with the opportunity of hearing Miss Mason. The new programme of work will be issued in September.
Clapham.--A delightful lecture was given by the Rev. Theodore Wood (son of the late Rev. J. G. Wood), on Monday, June 8th, at 8 p.m., at Clapham Rectory, by kind invitation of the Rector of Clapham, who occupied the chair. The lecture, entitled "God in Nature, as Power, Wisdom, and Love," was listened to with the greatest interest, and followed by a lively discussion.
Finchley.--On May 7th a meeting was held at Glenaradale, North Finchley (by kind permission of Mrs. Allan). An address was given by the President, Mr. McClure, on "Personal Influence in the Home Life." There followed an interesting discussion in which several ladies and gentlemen took part. There will be no further meetings of this branch until October.
Reading.--A drawing room meeting was held on Saturday, May 30th, at Merton House, by the kindness of Mrs. Campbell, when there was fair attendance of members, the chair being taken by the Rev. Canon Beach. A lecture was given by the Rev. W. Hume Campbell on "Memory." [published on pg 642] After lamenting that time and his plan compelled him to omit many most interesting branches of his subject, the lecturer proceeded to examine examples of memory with a view to arriving at some definition. Memory was first found to be "a process of faculty," and in the case of recollected scenes to operate by reproducing mental pictures of what had impressed the brain through the sense of sight. Memory, however, exists, in varying degrees, with each of the senses, so that it was defined to be "a process or faculty by which past sense impressions are reproduced." But what causes them to be reproduced? Further examples showed the power the mind possesses of "linking" different experiences together, so that whenever one is suggested all the others which are "associated" with it tend to be reproduced. Memory, then, was defined to be a process or faculty by which past sense impressions are reproduced in obedience to the laws of association." Discussing the difference between a good and bad memory, the lecturer showed that defects are due either to the quality of the impressions or to the weakness of the associations. If impressions are to be deep and clear there must be interest, repetition, attention. If the links of association are to be strong, there must be thought and arrangement. It is along these lines that both correction and exercise must run. The lecturer closed with noticing the remarkable variations in memory and some suggestions as to learning by heart. It was considered well to make children learn by heart anything of which the form was valuable as definitions, formulæ, or poetry; but it was unadvisable to make them learn what they might reason out, what would merely cumber the memory, or what could easily be looked up without loss of time or opportunity. After a discussion on several points, a vote of thanks was proposed by the Rev. M. T. Friend, seconded by Miss L. E. Haigh, and carried. Those present were kindly entertained at tea by Mrs. Payne and Mrs. Campbell before leaving.
A meeting was held at Grove House, Leighton Park, on Saturday, June 27th, when F. Bate, Esq., gave an address on "Fine Art and Education." [published on pg 561] The chair was taken at 3.30 by F. J. Edwinson, Esq., M. A.
Natural History Club. The inaugural meeting was held on April 14th, at the High School (by kind permission of Miss Haigh), when a lecture to children on "Nature's Championship," was given by B. T. Austin, Esq., F.L.S. The first excursion for field-work took place on May 9th. By the kind invitation of Mrs. Hart-Davis, the President of the Club, the party visited Dunsden, and were entertained at tea on the Vicarage lawn. Sixty-two members were present. Mr. Hamm, naturalist, was very successful in interesting many of the party in the butterflies and moths of the district; the majority studied plant-life in the fields and woods. The Club has grown rapidly, and now numbers 57 adults and 70 children, amongst whom there is considerable enthusiasm and very lively interest.--C. E. Strachan, Hon. Sec.
Hastings and S. Leonards.--On May 28th, at Ancaster House [School] (by kind permission the Rev. F. R. Burrows and Mrs. Burrows), a paper was read by Miss Beth Finlay, first-class Moral Science Tripos, late of Newnham College, Cambridge, on "University life for girls." The chair was taken by Mrs. Tubbs. There will be no further meeting until next October.
Scarborough.--Two Botany Lectures for children were held in the Museum, on May 22nd and 29th. These lectures were specially prepared by F. W. Nicholson, Esq., B.A., and were full of most interesting detail, which charmed the audience, and kept the children deeply interested for an hour. Between seventy and eighty attended. E. A. Cooper, Esq., M.A., took the chair.
Sheffield.--A meeting of this Branch was held on June 2nd, when Miss Garaway read extracts from papers published in the Nineteenth Century, the British Medical Journal and other magazines, on "Girls' School Games and Bicycling" A short discussion afterwards took place on points raised in the papers.
Proofread by LNL, Nov. 2020