What is Lightner Witmer best known for in the field of school psychology?

Lightner Witmer is best known for creating the first child psychology and guidance clinic, which he established in 1896 at the University of Pennsylvania. This clinic was pioneering in focusing on the psychological assessment and treatment of children, shortly after the establishment of psychology as a distinct scientific discipline. Witmer’s work laid the foundation for applying psychological principles specifically to children, and he emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach that included not only the assessment of individual children but also educational consultation and intervention. This initiative highlighted the need for specialized support for children facing various psychological difficulties in educational settings, effectively giving rise to the field of school psychology as we know it today.