Chapter 2: W. E. Blatz: The Person and His Work

Dr. Blatz is one of the most sparkling figures in the history of Canadian psychology. He had a keen and perceptive mind and was “probably the brightest member of the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto from 1925 until his death in 1964” (Myers, 1982, p. 85). He was dynamic and full of energy, drive, and new ideas. In his public life, he was a fearless and formidable exponent of reform.

The ideas Blatz brought to Toronto in the 1920s and 1930s may now seem commonplace, but at the time most people regarded them as shocking. He challenged all of the most sacred precepts of conventional wisdom about child rearing, especially authoritarianism in all its forms. He taught that children should be given freedom to develop their own ideas, make their own decisions, and learn from experience. He spoke out against punishments of all kinds, including shame and spanking, and he ridiculed the use of rewards such as stars, prizes, and praise. He pointed out the dangers inherent in the use of competition to motivate children and advocated doing away with examinations and “marks.” He argued that “consistency” rather than love was the essential component in parental infant care and that “fathering” could be as effective as “mothering” in meeting an infant’s needs. One of his talks on this latter subject inspired the writing of a hilarious parody for Saturday Night entitled “I can’t give you anything but consistency, baby” (Ross, 1947).