The Educational Value of Instincts
Abstract
Instincts are guiding impulses which are native, and aid the organism in adjusting itself to its environment. Within the last fifteen years, great stress has been laid upon the educational value of these inborn tendencies in the child. Prior to this time, it was thought that instinct be-longed to the lower animal, in distinction from reason in man. Consequently these instincts were neglected as educational material, or they were rooted out as belonging to lower natures, or else they were taught to obey ideas as their governors. Today as educators we are thankful for these instincts, and call them into daily use; for to teach boys and girls without paying heed to the equipment of instincts and capacities which they already possess, would be as foolish as to sail a boat regardless of the direction of the wind, or to build a house regardless of the material at hand.
Subject Area
Psychology|Education
Recommended Citation
Meehan, Marie Cecile, "The Educational Value of Instincts" (1923). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI31189816.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI31189816
