Education by Heroes.

The article discusses the reasons why children have heroes and the kinds of influences such persons--real or imaginary--can exert. Hero worship has two immediate consequences. It releases abounding energy and tends to give purpose and, thereby, direction to the expenditure of energy. These are two of the most important factors in any effective learning situation. Release of energy means increased activity. Activity begets learning. The quality of the learning depends largely on the purposes of the worshiper--the values he attaches to the object of his esteem. Teachers tend to become their idols during the early school years when they are making adjustments to the world outside the home. In middle and later childhood and early adolescence, problems of growth become more complex and diverse. Yearnings for adventure, exploration, and conquest or a conflict with local regulations invite a child's mind to feed on heroes from real life and fiction. The adolescent crush is frequently an escape from frustration growing out of heterosexual adjustments.