RISE OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN REPUBLICS, as told in the Lives of their Liberators. By William Spence Robertson, Ph.D. D. Appleton and Company. American capital and American influence in Spanish-speaking countries have become of vast importance in the past quarter of a century. This splendid volume presents to American readers a very readable account of the lives and influence of the most distinguished Mexicans and South Americans who have shaped public sentiment and created history in our nearest great national division of the earth's people. It is an interesting, inspiring record, true as history, and with a better thrill for those who like excitement than can be found in a so-called "dime novel"! EXPERIENCE AND NATURE. By John Dewey. The Open Court Publishing Co. Price, $3.00. This book contains the lectures, given by the author named, upon the Paul Carus Foundation,-the first series. Educators are so familiar with the name and reputation of John Dewey that they will need no introduction; and to commend his lectures, and therefore this book, is equally superfluous. It is a book of philosophy, presenting chapters on Experience and Philosophic Method; discussing Existence as Precarious and as Stable; Nature,-Ends and Histories; Nature,-Means and Knowledge; Nature, Communication and as Meaning; Nature, Mind and the Subject; Nature, Life and Body-Mind; Existence, Ideas and Consciousness; Experience, Nature and Art; Existence, Value and Criticism. There is a topical Index. GOOD ENGLISH IN SPEAKING AND WRITING; Fourth Grade; Fifth Grade; Sixth Grade. By Nell J. Young and Frederick W. Memmott. D. Appleton and Company. These attractive, illustrated readers are admirably adapted to the ages of children in each grade, and progressively develop a vocabulary and a knowledge of good English in both prose and metrical form. Careful attention is paid to pronunciation, distinctness of utterance, spelling, making of outlines, choice of words, etc. The illustrative selections in prose and verse are from the best literature; and there are lists of words most frequently mispronounced, and many other excellent features, too numerous to mention. The lessons are progressive; the pupils trained by these should be able to go out into business and society well able to hold their own in any company and in all ordinary if not extraordinary circumstances. CYCLOPEDIA OF Edited by PAUL MONROE Teachers College, Columbia University HIS indispensable reference work has just been made available in three volumes, on thin paper, and at the reduced price of $15.00. It has proved most satisfactory as a textbook in education, a complete reference library on every division of education, a key to the vast library of educational literature and an authoritative guide, the only one in the English language, to the sanest theories and the soundest practices of the profession. The new reduced price brings this valuable work within the means of teachers and superintendents all over the country. "Marks an era in educational progress."-Education "Most important single contribution to eduational literature in America." Devoted to the Science, Art, Philosophy and Literature VOL. XLV. of Education MAY, 1925 No. 9 Norway's Contribution to Cultural Elements in Education T GABRIEL LOFTFIELD.* HE cultural elements of a given country are reflected in its educational practices. They are not so highly developed among peoples in a new country, but in countries many centuries old they are very prominent and exert a large influence upon its schools. The Norwegian people have many definite cultura elements present in their racial make-up. These play an important part in determining their educational progress. Without these several of the important phases of present education would have been essentially different. Among the outstanding factors that have contributed to racial character, religion is one of the most prominent. The Norwegians have been a religious people since the beginning of history. They have as a race sought at all times to regulate their habits and life according to well defined religious pre *Mr. Loftfield is a graduate student of the University of Washington, now in Norway, doing research in foreign education under the direction of Dean Frederick E. Bolton of the University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. cepts. They have never been fanatical in their religious culture in any of their three great religious stages: Heathenism, Catholocism, and Protestantism. They have been cool and deliberate, and thus unlike several of the southern European peoples. They are not fatalists in the commonly accepted meaning of the word, yet since earliest history they have shown a marked tendency to rely on the supernatural in the various conducts of life. The geography and the physical character of the country have added much to the unfolding and accumulation of the racial characteristics of the people. The uncertain and dangerous moods of the elements of nature manifesting themselves in the storms, the waves, the avalanche, destruction of crops by frosts and by floods, the long and dreary winters and the great toll of deaths resulting from the cruel operation of the elements and forces of nature, have molded the character of the people into a serious attitude of life, and in a more or less passive reliance on the supernatural or the guiding mysteries of Fate. Even after Christianity had been generally accepted in the 11th century, the Sagas tell us that many of the people sought Odin and Thor, instead of Christ, when at sea or otherwise in great danger. Traces of the Thor worship in remote valleys of the country are recorded as late as the 19th century. Since the Reformation the Norwegians have adhered to the Lutheran faith both while united with Denmark and under their own independent government. Their constitution as well as more recent legislation have granted full religious tolerance to all. Only the King and a very few of the state functionaries must belong to the State Church, yet the great majority by far choose to belong. This fact has a definite bearing on all matters of education because this common church fellowship furnishes both a disciplinary form of training and a definite moral code that have proven very valuable. There has been considerable discussion regarding a proposed separation of the established church from the state, and thus to effect an independent church organization. The chief argu |