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About twenty-five years ago readers of the sober pages of the British Journal of Psychology, and its equally sober advertisements, were somewhat startled to read in display type and edged with a border unlike anything before seen within its covers, the following notice:
WANTED—an Educated Young Woman with honours degree—preferably first class—or the equivalent, to conduct education of a small group of children aged 2½–7, as a piece of scientific work and research.
Previous educational experience is not considered a bar, but the advertisers hope to get in touch with a university graduate—or someone of equivalent intellectual standing—who has hitherto considered themselves too good for teaching and who has probably already engaged in another occupation.
It continued in smaller type:
A LIBERAL SALARY—liberal as compared with research work or teaching—will be paid to a suitable applicant who will live out, have fixed hours and opportunities for a pleasant independent existence. An assistant will be provided if the work increases.
They wish to obtain the services of someone with certain personal qualifications for the work and a scientific attitude of mind towards it. Hence a training in any of the natural sciences is a distinct advantage.
Preference will be given to those who do not hold any form of religious belief, but this is not by itself considered to be a substitute for other qualifications.
The applicant chosen would require to undergo a course of preliminary training, 6–8 months in London, in part at any rate the expenses of this being paid by the advertisers.
Then in small type at the foot:
Communications are invited to Box No. 1.