Book Reviews A HISTORY OF EUROPEAN PEOPLES. By Clarence Perkins. Rand, McNally & Co., publishers. Dr. Clarence Perkins, Professor of European History at the University of North Dakota, has written a new text for the year course in general history, which is offered by most high schools. This book, entitled "A History of European Peoples," seems to be well suited to the function of introducing young students to the field of historical knowledge. Dr. Perkins gives a brief and interesting summary of pre-history before he launches into the origins of civilization in Egypt and the Tigris-Euphrates Valley. It might seem offhand that he gets away from the title a bit in this connection; but, naturally a little of Africa and a little of Asia must be included within the limits of any survey of European peoples. He has succeeded admirably in presenting this difficult period in language that a high school freshman would have no difficulty in understanding. Wars and conflicts must inevitably receive a goodly share of space in a text-book of this sort. Certainly Dr. Perkins does not slight them; some persons might think that he spends rather too much time over the recent World War, and over his Apologia for it. But he finds also a considerable amount of space for those other and more important phases of history, which reserve more attention on the part of the general public, and which are much more properly emphasized for the young student. The education, the philosophy, the science, the poetry, the drama, the sculpture, the architecture of ancient Greece are certainly of vastly more human importance than the Peloponnesian War; and Dr. Perkins by no means slights these elements of civilization in his book. While his treatment of such matters is more extensive in ancient history than it is in modern and mediaeval, it may be said on the whole that he gives an admirable and satisfactory survey of the civilizations that come within the scope of his book. In conclusion we may say that this text is quite informative, and so valuable for presentation to the young student; it is most teachable, helping the instructor along with maps and map studies, reading reference lists, and special topics for outside assignments and papers; and it is thoroughly modern, both in its time element (for it brings one down to 1926) and in its historical attitude.-Review by Hewitt B. Vinnedge, Department of History and Social Science, State Teachers College, Mayville, North Dakota. MODELS AND VALUES. A Course of Reading for Students. The Oxford University Press. Chosen by Walter C. Phillips, William G. Crane, and Frank R. Byers. Price 2.00. A book of more than 500 pages of Incidents, Portraits, States of Mind, Personal Narratives, Economics and War, Science and Religion, designed to aid students to acquire the mental point of view that will aid them in the life and standards of the present age. ENGLISH EXERCISES. By Thomas R. Cook, Instructor of English, Bulkeley School, New London, Conn. Charles Scribner's Sons. A useful, paper-bound pamphlet of fifty-five pages, the purpose being to train the pupil to spell and use words that are not infrequently wrongly spelled or used. Try it in a single class, and note the results! And employers and their clerks and correspondents will rejoice. From the Macmillan Company: A TEACHER'S GEOGRAPHY, Emphasizing the Problem Method. By Mendel E. Branom, Head of the Department of Geography, Harris Teachers College, St. Louis. This book will stimulate the teacher to become a geographer. All is not left to the book; that is a stimulant to the teacher to become so interested that he or she will discover things that the book does not state; only thus does any teacher become a real teacher, capable to inspire her pupils and make them interested and real discoverers in the science of geography. There are abundant references that will aid both teachers and students to become enthusiastic about the subject. From the same publishers: EDUCATION: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES. By Emit Duncan Grizzell, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania). "An attempt has been made to show the ways in which principles and practices affect each other, and to present the field of education as a unified and organized program." The Teacher is presented as "Society's Agent." The volume is full of stimulating suggestions for the teacher, the superintendent, and the public. From the same publishers, The Macmillan Company: LIVING ENGLISH STUDIES. By Ettie Lee, A.M. (Los Angeles, Calif.). This book has been successfully used with foreign-born adults and American-born children in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades; likewise with adults from abroad, who are eager to get ahead in the new world. Other Macmillan books are as follows, viz.: THE WAR DEBTS, An American View, by Philip Dexter and John Hunter Sedgwick. EXERCISES DE COMPOSITION ET DE GRAMMAIRE, Avec Grammaire Elementaire, par M. S. Pargment, de L'Universitie de Michigan. A number in the Macmillan French Series. BOSTON UNIVERSITY GENERAL CATALOG. The Year Book, for 1928-1929. The greatness of an American city's University is reflected by such voluminous publications as this. It contains 906 printed pages, giving details of all the Colleges, Faculties, Students, Libraries, Laws, Traditions, By-Laws, Courses, Finances, etc., etc. What would our Pilgrim Fathers have thought and said if they could have pre-visioned this volume when they were landing on Plymouth Rock! MODERN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION IN CANADA. Volumes I and II. Two large volumes,-publications of the American and Canadian Committees on Modern Languages. The University of Toronto Press, 1928. These are interesting and valuable researches and records of facts, theories and methods showing the importance of modern languages and the teaching of them in the schools and colleges. The quotation at the head of the Introduction of the first volume suggests the value of such books and studies. It is as follows, viz., "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do and how to do it."-Lincoln. HANDBOOK OF RURAL SOCIAL RESOURCES. Edited by Benson Y. Landis. The University of Chicago Press. $2.00. Interprets developments in rural life in the past seven years; presents programs and refers the reader to the national agencies engaged in rural social work. From D. Appleton and Company: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE ADOLESCENT. By Leta S. Hollinsworth, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. This is a careful and suggestive study of the all-important age of adolescence, viewed from modern standpoints and conditions. Obviously, there have been vast changes affecting the relations of both parents and teachers to the boys and girls in their "teens." On the whole we believe that these changes are for the best; but the problem needs careful thought; and this is a book that will be a safe and valuable guidebook for those who are feeling the need of aid. We can unreservedly recommend it to all those who are associated with young people either in the home or in the schoolroom. OUR MINDS AND OUR MOTIVES. A Dictionary of Human Behavior. By Paul D. Hugon. New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons. Prominent matters discussed are the Scientific Method, Evolution, Mind, Unconscious Thought, Language, Expression, Gesture, Graphology, Mental Healing, Destiny, Heredity. Perhaps it would be better to use the word defined, than discussed; for that is what men want; and when for a word there is given a real definition many discussions are at an end. THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF THE HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN, PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Cost of extra copies $1.50 each, by M. R. Keyworth, Superintendent of Schools, Hamtramck, Mich. Also, THE TWENTYTHIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, for the school year ending July 31, 1926. Address Albany, N. Y. A second, volume 2, of the same, is ready now. Also, a paper-covered pamphlet of value, entitled SOPHOMORE ENGLISH. By D. B. Cofer, Professor of English and Chairman of Sophomore English, and Associate Professor P. G. Gunter, and Assistant Professor E. K. Spahr, of the same department, at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. THE MYSTERIES OF OUR UNKNOWN WORLD. By Joseph A. Hodam, M.D. Volume one, Reality, Truth, Life. Published by the author; address, The Union Research Association, St. Louis, Mo. A booklet, neatly printed and bound, explaining the Author's theory of matter and life. His theories are ingenious,- -more or less plausible,not directly contradictory to Christian theology, but somewhat otherwise from accepted scientific thought and belief. It will be well to read this book, merely to train one's mind to get different view-points. They all converge more or less; but the final impression is far and away better than infidelity or ignorance. SPOKEN THOUGHT. A Text Book on Vocal Expression. By Lily C. Whitaker. A. S. Barnes & Company (New York, N. Y.). Price $3.00. The Author is President of the New Orleans College of Oratory. The book is divided into three "Courses." In each of these the student will find a full and suggestive program of study and thought and practice on such subjects as the voice, breath and tone control, articulation, emphasis, reading, gesture, animation, suggestion, posing, manner, enthusiasm, magnetism, etc. Nearly everything seems to have been thought of; indeed, the student is fortunate to own such a compendium of knowledge and advice as this volume offers. From the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution we have received THE FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY to the Secretary for 1919-1924. These Reports are valuable and interesting and should be made and preserved as historic. Future students of human affairs will find them to be source-books of information. The illustrations are surprisingly interesting. Read, for instance, the chapter on "Coiled Basketry in British Columbia and Surrounding Region." It will make you delighted and astonished that such winsome artistry was produced by wandering tribes of Flatheads who lived, and loved beautiful colors, and made useful baskets, and many other things too numerous to mention. |