What was Layard's central idea on the 'native' mind?
My central contention was that the 'native' mind, like the natural world I studied so assiduously, could be understood through systematic observation and the identification of recurring patterns. I believed that the observed behaviors and intellectual capacities were not inherent, but rather shaped by the environment, upbringing, and available opportunities for learning and development. My reports on native education aimed to document these influences and suggest rational approaches to fostering intellectual growth, much as one might cultivate a garden or train a young bird.
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