Originally published in 1966, the two authors combined skill in their subject with experience of teaching it to students in Africa and elsewhere. Their aim was threefold. First and most important to emphasise to teachers in training how essential it is to regard children as individuals, each with a character and problems resulting from heredity and environment. Secondly, to give the teacher enough knowledge of psychology to help him to understand each pupil’s learning process and behaviour. Thirdly, to stimulate the teacher to observation, enquiry and thought. Each chapter ends with suggested exercises, discussion points and reading references.

The book was one of a series offered to Africa teachers in training. The series was designed to help those who were called upon to teach the many subjects of the primary school curriculum or two or more subjects with junior forms of secondary schools. It was dedicated to the proposition that giving a good basic education to a country’s children is vital to its development programme.