Bruce L. Melvin

Laboratory Work in Rural Social Problems

COLLEGE COURSES which deal with the problems of rural life, whether called Rural Sociology or Rural Social Prob? lems can be taught by the laboratory method with the same facility and profitableness as the physical sciences. Such subjects are not being taught by this method to any great extent because it is generally believed to be impossible, and it is easier to observe the customary practices of handling classes by lectures and discussions. The laboratory method of teaching involves the collection and interpretation of facts by the stu? dent, and it is this that can be done to a very great advantage in a course on Rural Social Prob? lems, from the teaching of which I make most of the inferences of this article.