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VISUAL EDUCATION
A National Organ of the New Movement in American Education
Nelson L. Greene, Editor Harley L. Clarke, Manager
Copyright 1920, by the Society for Visual Education, Inc.
Volume I JANUARY, 1920 Number 1
Foreword
//"Y"¥" TORK and Play" is a phrase that has attained the dignity of authority l/l/ in the language as a fairly adequate synonym for the whole waking ™ ™ activity of man. The dominant factor governing "work" is the reason ; the dominant factor governing "play" is the emotions. With equal simplicity and sufficient accuracy human inventions and discoveries may be roughly classified in two corresponding groups ; those calculated for the "work" side of life and appealing to the reason, and those concerned with the "play" side of life and appealing to the emotions. The wheelbarrow and the sewing-machine are obvious examples of the termer, and by far the larger group ; the kaleidoscope and the merry-goround would seem to belong exclusively to the latter.
These categories, however, are not mutually exclusive. Many a device serves both ends, regardless of the intentions of the inventor. If a given invention contains possibilities for both utility and amusement, it is interesting to note the apparent rule that the amusement possibilities will be developed first. The rationalizing process of passing time reveals the other — and generally richer possibilities. This is a strictly logical phenomenon, for the emotions answer an appeal more promptly than the reason. Hence a novelty often becomes established as a toy before it occurs to the reason that the toy may be used as well for work. Mankind has been busy devising toys and tools since the dawn of history. The whole march of the race out of the prehistoric fog down to the year of Our Lord, 1920, has been punctuated by inventions that have gradually transformed the world — that have finally dulled the edge of wonder. Yet the human spirit that achieved these miracles of science, holds still the primal appetite for laughter and amusement. It is a never-sleeping instinct, primitive, elemental, strong. It claims the first tribute from each new discovery, arrogating to itself each novelty as it appears — and the intellect must wait till curiosity and shaking sides subside.
In all probability the first hieroglyphics were merely entertainment for the artist and his onlookers. Cadmus, with his mighty alphabet, must have first excited wonder and amusement; little did he or his disciples dream that, but foi those magic little marks, the world would remain practically inarticulate. Mechanical science was born in the making of toys. Tops were spinning in Homer's day for the amusement of young mankind, but it was a far ery to the