News and Comments
Journal of the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology. Last month saw the dedication to the public service of yet another journal,?unlike many that have gone before it, in that it promises to bridge a yawning gap in American periodical literature. The Editorin-Chief is Professor James W. Garner, of the University of Illinois, and the Editorial Director is Colonel and Judge-Advocate Harvey C. Carbaugh, U. S. A., assisted by the following associate editors:?Charles F. Amidon, Frederic B. Crossley, Charles A. DeCourcey, Charles A. Ellwood, Frederick R. Green, Charles R. Henderson, Francis J. Heney, Charles H. Huberich, John D. Lawson, Orlando F. Lewis, Edward Lindsey, Adolf Meyer, Frank H. Nor cross, Roscoe Pound, Richard A. Sylvester, Arthur W. Towne, John H. Wigmore, and Lightner Witmer.
In an editorial Dr Garner outlines the plan of the journal as follows:
“During the sessions of the National Conference on Criminal Law and Criminology at Chicago in June, 1909, the fact was brought out that there is no journal or bulletin published in the English language devoted wholly or in part to the cause of criminal law and criminology or to the problems connected therewith, although there are thirty or forty periodicals of this character published in foreign countries, notably Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and even India and South America.. … ,
“Very recently there has been a remarkable awakening of interest in the scientific study of crime and penal methods?an interest which is beginning to manifest itself in a productive research and investigation as well as in destructive criticism of antiquated methods and in constructive proposals of reform. Believing that an organ should be provided for promoting this new spirit of research and investigation, the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology has undertaken the establishment of this Journal. “It will aim to arouse and extend a wider interest in the study of all questions relating to the administration of the criminal law, including the causes and prevention of crime, methods of criminal procedure and the treatment of criminals; to provide a common medium for recording the results of the best scientific thought and professional practice in this and foreign countries concerning the larger problems of criminal science; to consider the present state of the criminal law m every branch, and to bring to the attention of all who are interested the evidences of progress in legislation and administration so far as it relates to the detection and punishment of crime, criminal procedure, and the punishment of offenders. It will advocate the introduction of such reforms in existing penal methods as experience and reason have shown to be desirable, to the end that a more effective, speedy, and, inexpensive system of criminal justice may be secured, more modern and effective methods of dealing with criminals may be introduced, and the causes of the present widespread and increasing popular dissatisfaction with the administration of the criminal law may be removed… . “It is believed that such a journal will appeal not only to intelligent practitioners who are interested in the progress of a scientific criminal law, but to all persons, public officials and private individuals alike, who are concerned directly or indirectly with the administration of punitive justice, as well as to a large group of scholars who are working in the allied fields of sociology, anthropology, psychology, philanthropy, etc. It is now recognized that all these sciences are more or less closely related to criminal jurisprudence and criminology and that they are capable of throwing a vast amount of much-needed light on many problems of the criminal law. Each is in a sense contributory to the others, and at many points their spheres touch and even overlap.” Summer Courses in Psychology.
The catalogue of the Summer School of the University of Pennsylvania announces a number of courses planned for those interested in clinical psychology. These courses, offered in addition to those meeting the requirements of college and graduate students, are addressed to students who desire to acquaint themselves with psychology as applied to practical social and educational problems. In these courses physicians, educators in positions of supervision, grade teachers, teachers of special classes, probation officers, and church workers will have an opportunity to study the scientific methods employed in this field and to observe the results of their applications.
The courses divide themselves into four groups:
I. SYSTEMATIC COURSES. Psychology 1 and 2 present a systematic and Hetailed survey of the general field of psychology. Psychology 1 is an elementary course, offering an opportunity for students to make a thorough acquaintance with psychology. Psychology 2, an advanced course, considers in further detail certain of the problems and theories of psychology from the genetic point of view. This course is offered to meet the requirements of students who have had one or more years’ training in psychology.
n. LABORATORY COURSES. Psychology 3 deals primarily with the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and sense organs in their relation to conscious proNEWS AND COMMENT. 119 cesses and to the production of bodily movement. This course lays a foundation for thorough work in psychology and its practical applications. It is recommended as a course for students beginning the study of psychology and for those preparing for practical work with defective children, social workers, etc. Psychology 4 is an advanced experimental course in which certain psychological processes are studied in detail. This course is offered primarily for advanced students and those wishing to pursue post-graduate work.
in. PRACTICAL COURSES. Psychology 7 is designed to present to the student a scientific outline of the history, classification, diagnosis, training, and treatment of deficient children, as well as to demonstrate typical examples of cases of backwardness and physical defects. Children brought to the Psychological Clinic for examination furnish abundant opportunities for students in this course to observe and study mental and physical defects and the methods of diagnosis.
The Psychological Clinic has at its disposal reception and waiting rooms, two rooms for examinations, and all the necessary measuring and testing instruments, as well as the entire apparatus of the laboratory, and a staff of psychologists, medical examiners, a social worker, and a recorder. Psychology 7 offers an opportunity for advanced investigation in the special field of child psychology, either upon the literature of the subjects or upon the boys in the special class. Psychology 10, a new course in Clinical Social Service, is an application of the laboratory idea to a new field of psychology made especially urgent by the estaV lishment of social departments in connection with hospital clinics. The free Psychological Clinic offers the opportunity for some firsthand study of the operation of the clinic, while the large number of social service institutions in Philadelphia affords a large field of practical study for1 any student looking forward towards a professional career in this work. A special class for adolescent boys will give immediate and close opportunity for observation of the methods of dealing with troublesome boys at puberty and early adolescence. The effect of intelligent leadership, suitable instruction and environment will be closely studied.
IV. TOPICAL COURSES. Psychology 5a, a new course, presents a comprehensive and systematic treatment of the normal child, his physical, mental, and moral development, with special reference to the adolescent period. Psychology 8 presents an analysis of mental diseases, their causes, symptoms, and principles of cure, with reference both to child and adult life. Psychology 9 outlines in detail the work of medical inspection of school children, with special reference to methods which can be employed to prevent retardation through infectious and contagious diseases and remediable physical defects.
A credit of one unit will be given, in either the College or the Graduate School, for each of these courses, except Course 4, for which two or three credits may be given. To obtain this credit, the student must hand in, at the conclusion of the course, a satisfactory note-book and pass a written examination. The note-book and the examination must equal, in quality and quantity, those that are required of students in the College or the Graduate School.
The Psychological Laboratory and Clinic are situated in the west wing of College Hall and comprise three lecture rooms on the first floor and basement, a seminar and reading room with a department library, including all the psychological periodicals, a workshop for the manufacture of apparatus, a photographic dark room, two rooms for the Psychological Clinic, and seven other rooms for examination and experimental research. The entire laboratory equipment will be available during the summer session of the school.
Eeaders of The Psychological Clinic who wish further information about these courses may address Professor E. B. Twitmyer, who will be in charge of the Psychological Laboratory and Clinic during the session of the Summer School.
Disclaimer
The historical material in this project falls into one of three categories for clearances and permissions:
Material currently under copyright, made available with a Creative Commons license chosen by the publisher.
Material that is in the public domain
Material identified by the Welcome Trust as an Orphan Work, made available with a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
While we are in the process of adding metadata to the articles, please check the article at its original source for specific copyrights.