between the class instruction and the field work that has brought about the unfortunate and illogical distinction between theoretical courses and practical work.

Courses of study worthy of a place in a professional school ought to be theoretical only in the sense that all work whether done in class or in the field seeks to test out theories and formulate principles and devise methods for the purpose of attaining increasingly better results. Field work is one part of the process by which these results are achieved. Its contribution, however, cannot be best made by simply delegating to it the burden of providing the practical side of the training of social workers. As long as we hold to this idea of field work, we have made little progress beyond the apprenticeship stage of training. Education for social work should be carried on by means of courses that include field work designed to make their subject-matter vital and concrete and of such a nature that this field work is not inconsistent with intensive and thorough study.

In this connection it is well to remind ourselves that the graduates of a school for social work cannot be expected to have acquired the technical skill that comes only through long practice. Much of the confusion in regard to the place of field work in the curriculum has been caused by the tendency to give technique an emphasis inconsistent with adequate attention to other aspects of professional training. A study of the curriculum of schools of social work leaves the impression that in spite of the advance made within recent years, they still follow out closely the methods of apprentice training. The field work that is given a central place in the curriculum from the beginning to the end of the course of study is primarily practice work with social agencies for the purpose of gaining familiarity with their technique and methods of work.

In arriving at a critical estimate of this method of training, help can be gained by reference to the procedure in medical education which has so much in common with education for social work. The medical school arranges its courses of study in four main divisions and gives them in the following order: (1) physiology, (2) pathology, (3) therapeutics, (4) hospital experience. In the first part of the course emphasis is placed upon a knowledge of the structure

and functions of the human body, followed by a study of its diseases and abnormalities. In order to do this adequately, the appropriate sciences are called into requisition and the laboratory is extensively used. It is only in the latter part of the course that the student is expected to devote much time to clinical experience. By means of this clinical study and practice the student gains familiarity with the methods followed in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and with the procedure of the operating room, but this is not regarded as sufficient equipment for successful practice. His graduation from the medical school is supposed to be followed by a year of hospital experience where, under the most favorable auspices, he can devote his whole time to the practice of his profession.

Education in social work should also proceed in this orderly and logical way. Beginning with a study of the structure and functions of society, with emphasis upon social research, the students should be led gradually into the field of social pathology, where they will study the methods of dealing with problems arising out of social maladjustments and abnormal conditions. Here the clinical field work may well begin, and no more should be expected of it than is expected of the clinics attended by the medical student. Familiarity should be gained with methods of social diagnosis and treatment and there should be opportunity for a limited amount of practice with the routine work of different kinds of social agencies. But the acquirement of skill that comes through considerable work experience must be left to the social-work interneship that should follow the course of study offered by a school of social work. Only in exceptional cases should the graduate of a school of social work be considered ready for a position of independent responsibility. It should become as common as it now is in the medical profession for the social-work graduate to undergo an apprenticeship of varying length in his chosen field where under favorable conditions he can acquire professional skill. When this comes to be regarded as the accepted procedure to follow, it will be possible to give field work its proper place in the course of study and to plan a more thoroughgoing training course than can now be done.

[To be continued]

COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE

AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY

The purpose of this organization is to secure effective cooperation and mutual helpfulness in their distinctive work among all its members. To this end the annual meetings of the Society should not be confined to expressing the ideas of a few but should bring to common knowledge the most significant ideas that are developing anywhere among its membership.

An invitation and a request is therefore extended to all members of the Society to notify the Secretary of their opinions as to the general theme and plan of the next annual meeting and especially to inform the Secretary of any topics upon which they have results from their own work already matured or maturing, which they wish to present at the annual meeting.

The general subject of the next annual meeting of the Society will be selected with regard for any common trend of interest revealed by the replies to this request, and the program will be arranged as far as possible to utilize the results of the work spontaneously undertaken by the members.

If such an opportunity is desired at least one half-day during the annual meeting will be set aside for sectional meetings devoted to topics which are of special interest to separate divisions of our membership. The members of the Society are invited to propose topics to which they wish to have a sectional meeting devoted. If the response to these requests is as general as is hoped, it will of course be impossible to act upon all the suggestions received, but they all will be given the most hospitable consideration, and they will afford to the officers of the Society the most valued guidance.

In order to serve the purpose effectively, replies should be received within a month after this communication is published. EDWARD CARY HAYES

NEWS AND NOTES

Notes of interest to the readers of the Journal should be in the hands of the editor of "News and Notes" not later than the tenth of the month preceding publication.

SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF EUGENICS

The Journal has received the preliminary announcement of the Second International Congress of Eugenics to be held in New York City September 22-28, 1921. The First International Congress was held in London, August, 1912, under the auspices of the Eugenics Education Society and the presidency of Major Leonard Darwin. According to present plans, the Congress will be organized into four sections. The first will deal with the results of research in the domain of pure eugenics in animals and plants, and in studies in human heredity. The second section will consider factors which influence the human family, and their control. The third section will concern itself with the topic of human racial differences in relation to immigration, racial admixture, and national and cultural groups. The fourth section will discuss eugenics in relation to the state, to society, and to education.

The honorary president of the Congress is Alexander Graham Bell. The president is Henry Fairchild Osborn. All papers for presentation at the Congress should be submitted to the Secretary-General, who will see that they are received and considered by the proper section of the. program committee. All communications should be addressed to Dr. C. C. Little, Secretary-General, American Museum of Natural History, 77th Street and Central Park, West, New York City.

THE SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON

The Sociological Review reports that during January there was an Exhibition of Civic and Regional Surveys at Leplay House. The exhibit included surveys of Westminster, Oxford, Chelsea, Saffron Walden, Ludlow, and Newbury.

Among the several groups of the Society for the study of special problems, the most active at present are the group in social psychology, the group formed for the study of "La science sociale," and the group engaged in studying rural problems.

INSTITUT INTERNATIONAL DE SOCIOLOGIE

The International Institute of Sociology announces the election as associates of Professor John P. Lichtenberger, of the University of Pennsylvania, first vice-president of the American Sociological Society, and Professor Scott E. W. Bedford, of the University of Chicago, former secretary of the American Sociological Society.

REVUE DE L'INSTITUT DE SOCIOLOGIE

The Archives Sociologiques published by the Institut Solvay of Brussels, which was suspended for six years because of the war, has made its reappearance under the title Revue de l'Institut de Sociologie. The Revue will appear in six numbers during the year, each issue containing about 140 pages. The editors are G. Barnich and G. Hostelet. Over one-third the space of the Revue is devoted to bibliographies, book reviews, and abstracts. The first number, issued last July, contained an article, "La raison et le progrès moral," by Professor Edward Cary Hayes, of the University of Illinois. Communications should be addressed to Institut Solvay, Parc Léopold, Brussels.

CHICAGO COMMISSION ON RACE RELATIONS

The Chicago Commission on Race Relations was appointed by Governor Lowden of Illinois to inquire into the causes leading up to and culminating in the riot of July, 1919, which resulted in the death of twenty-three negroes and fifteen white persons. This Commission has been engaged since February, 1920, in a thorough and comprehensive inquiry into race relations in general with special inquiry into: housing, industry, crime and police administration, racial clashes, race contacts, and public opinion. Throughout this study the emphasis has been placed upon the social and psychological aspects of the relations of the white and negro groups. The material is now in process of compilation. The executive secretary of the Commission is Mr. Graham Romeyn Taylor; the associate secretary is Mr. Charles S. Johnson, formerly of the Chicago Urban League.

AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE STUDY

A study of public employment in the United States has been undertaken by the Russell Sage Foundation. The general purpose is to gather the experience of this country in planning, organizing, and administering public employment work. The work undertaken groups