USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1926-1927 > Part 14
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The Hedge School playground addition has been filled and graded at a cost of $750.00. No fence has been built yet and possibly the fill needs to go through another win- ter before putting a fence on it. That is not determined at this writing. It is probable that the slope can be safely loamed and seeded this Spring. The balance of this ap- propriation is $1,004.40, and of the Hedge School build- ing addition appropriation $366.41.
Mr. Horace F. Turner resigned as Superintendent the latter part of July after four years' service, to accept a similar position in Milton, Mass.
There were fifteen or twenty applicants for the va- cancy. The Committee, however, made unanimous choice
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of Mr. Anson B. Handy, Superintendent of Schools at Enfield, Conn.
Mr: Handy is a native of the adjoining town of Bourne, a graduate of Bridgewater Normal School and of Har- vard University, and has an experience of twenty years or more as teacher and superintendent.
Two "Kaustine" chemical toilets have been installed at The Cliff Street School with very satisfactory results, and the old outhouse has been removed. A similar instal- lation will be made at the Alden Street school during the February vacation.
Peter A. Dries has been appointed janitor at the Cornish and Burton schools in place of Lloyd F. Battles, resigned.
The few pupils at the Spooner Street school (only 9 enrolled as of December 31st, 1925) were taken into the Hedge School at the opening in September, and the former building is therefore not in use at present. Wheth- er or not this arrangement will be permanent cannot be determined at this time.
No additional High School pupils have been taken from the town of Carver this year and the present attendance from that Town is only seven.
Regular use of the assembly room at the Senior High School for class room purposes necessitated the installa- tion of two additional radiators in the rear part of the room. The expense was about $300.00. A radiator has also been installed in the small hall adjoining the doctor's office at the Hedge School.
The 1926 budget included an item of $1,500 for better lights at the Cornish and Burton schools. This work has been done, the cost being $1,003.69.
The need of such improvements was graphically shown in the report of the School Physician for 1925, and as the same or similar conditions exist in most of the other schools we believe the Town should continue the work. For this purpose $1,500.00 is included in the 1927 budget,
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having in mind the Knapp, Cold Spring and Alden Street schools, also the assembly room and corridor at the Senior High School.
A new Dodge coupé has been purchased for the use of the School Nurse, the net cost with equipment being $942.00 and the old car.
A new woodworking lathe has been installed at the Junior High School, cost $320.00.
FIRE PROTECTION
As recommended in last year's report and as provided for in the 1926 budget, all of the larger schools - Hedge, Knapp, Burton and Cornish, Junior High, Senior High and Mt. Pleasant, have been connected with the Town fire alarm system by the installation of the "Dualarm" system of the Gamewell Company. This consists of six Master Boxes of the shunt type, so-called, one for each school, except in the case of the Cornish and Burton, also 31 remote pull boxes in the several buildings, including one in the Lincoln Street primary. The cost of the appara- tus was $3,060.26, which includes 70 additional cells and a new generator set which it was necessary to install in the Central Fire Station to take care of the additional boxes. The installation cost was $983.17.
The above mentioned expense prevented the installa- tion this year of a sprinkler system in the Junior High School basement as recommended in the 1925 report. The Committee believes the sprinkler system should be installed in 1927. The probable cost is about $2,000.00, and we have included an item of $3,000.00 in the 1927 budget for that and sundry small jobs.
FREDERICK D. BARTLETT FANNIE T. ROWELL BURT H. COREY EDWARD R. BELCHER ALBERT L. MELLOR
A. PERRY RICHARDS
School Committee.
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FINANCIAL REPORT
RECEIPTS
Appropriation March, $243,250 00
Income from Trust Funds, 20 34
$243,270 34
PAYMENTS
General Expenses,
$7,067 16
Teachers' Salaries,
151,040 81
Text Books and Supplies,
11,971 33
Transportation,
14,755 20
Janitor Service,
11,630 76
Fuel,
10,918 71
Repairs,
17,865 74
Equipment,
3,029 16
Medical Inspection,
8,256 30
Tuition,
1,396 17
Miscellaneous,
3,110 24
241,041 58
Unexpended Balance,
$2,228 76
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR 1927
General Expenses-
Superintendent's Salary,
$3,900 00
Secretary,
1,500 00
Truant Officer,
300 00
Stationery and Postage,
500 00
Telephone,
100 00
Traveling Expense,
500 00
1
Automobile Expense,
500 00
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Freight and Express,
250 00
School Census,
200 00
All Other,
250 00
$8,000 00
Teachers' Salaries-
Day,
$151,500 00
Substitutes,
1,000 00
Evening,
1,000 00
Americanization,
1,800 00
Summer,
450 00
155,750 00
Text Books and Supplies-
Text and Reference Books,
$6,000 00
Paper, Blank Books, etc.,
4,000 00
Manual Training Supplies,
600 00
Domestic Science Supplies,
1,000 00
Typewriters,
600 00
Diplomas and Graduation,
150 00
All Other (including athletics)
600 00
Rent-Town Hall,
400 00
13,350 00
Transportation,
500 00
Transportation- Automobiles (Pupils)
$11,000 00
Carfares,
4,500 00
15,500 00
Janitors' Service-
Day,
$11,500 00
Evening,
300 00
11,800 00
Fuel and Light-
Coal and Wood,
$12,000 00
Gas and Electricity,
1,000 00
13,000 00
Tuition,
2,000 00
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Maintenance-
Salary of Building Supervisor, $2,600 00
General Repairs, 10,000 00
Flags and Flagstaffs, 150 00
Janitors' Supplies,
1,000 00
Telephones,
300 00
Ashes, etc., Removed,
500 00
All Other,
1,450 00
16,000 00 3,000 00
Fire Protection,
Furniture and Furnishings-
Program Clocks, $2,500 00
Lights,-Knapp, Cold Spring and Alden,
1,500 00
All Other, 500 00
4,500 00
Medical Inspection-
Physician,
$1,500 00
Nurse and Assistant,
2,450 00
Dental Hygienist,
1,600 00
Supplies and Expenses,
250 00
Dental Clinic Supplies,
750 00
Auto (Nurse)
300 00
All Other,
700 00
7,550 00
Total,
$250,950 00
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee:
I herewith submit my first report as Superintendent of Plymouth Schools. As I have been associated with the system only since September, I cannot make a full report of the year's work or make as definite recommendations for the future as I will be able to do after further care- ful study of the special needs of the town.
I have made a preliminary and simple survey of the schools in order that a full understanding of the condi- tions in the town might be obtained as a basis for con- structive work. The results, together with some general recommendations, will form the basis of my report.
THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
An intelligence test was given to enable the teachers to better understand the abilities of their pupils. No other standard tests have been given.
The results obtained by pupils going to college are of a high grade and shows conclusively that the general prep- aration of the pupils is of high order. A reasonably high percent. passed the College Board examinations. The school cannot be expected to fit every pupil who wishes to go to college. He must maintain a high stand- ard in school to be even recommended to try the examina- tions or to be admitted to some colleges on certificate. The principal makes a more detailed report of this item.
The fine morale of the school is evidenced by their con- duct not only in the school but on the street.
Its chief needs are many, several of which cannot be supplied until a new building is erected. There is no gymnasium, the lunch room is entirely inadequate, the classrooms are taxed to their utmost capacity, and there
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should be special rooms for more technical and practical work than at present. There are many pupils who need more work of a real practical value to help them fit them- selves for their life work. The general college prepara- tory work has no appeal to them. Why should these not be as well fitted for their life work as those who wish to go to college? Their needs should be met just as fully, for they will become just as useful and intelligent citizens.
THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Here again and for the same purpose intelligence tests were given. The Reading test showed that. the school was up to and somewhat above the accepted standard. In arithmetic in the seventh grade the average for all sections was several points higher than the state average.
The general spirit of the school is excellent and denotes a high standard of quality. Here also exists a handicap in the lack of a gymnasium, a commodious assembly, an adequate lunch room, and facilities for more extensive manual work for those so inclined.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
A careful study of the Health Department including the School Dental Clinic and the Fresh-Air room, reveals the fact that this department is not only unusually ef- ficient but ranks exceedingly high in the state. Its ef- ficiency and its outline of work has been heartily en- dorsed by the State Department. There is no question but that the money for this work has been well spent.
INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL
The Individual School is solving a real problem by meeting the needs of thirty-two of the less gifted children, by giving them the special training needed. The fact that several are able to go out into life and earn a living wage is evidence of its efficiency. The work of these two teachers is the most difficult of any. They need to have
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an abundant supply of sympathy, patience, tact and un- derstanding of these special types of children. The work done is a decided asset to the town.
CONDITIONS IN GRADES
In order that the conditions in the grades might be understood as quickly as possible a more thorough and careful study was made in grades four, five and six, in which the following data was obtained, (1) the number of underage, normal and overage children; (2) the num- ber of accelerated, normal and retarded children; (3) the standing of the various schools in standard tests in Language, Reading and Arithmetic; and (4) the mental ages of the children as determined by the use of the National Intelligence Test.
RETARDATION IN GRADES I TO VI
There were a few children who had been accelerated, but no more than is to be reasonably expected. The num- ber of retarded, however, was large and indicated a con- dition not compatible with the best interests of the overage pupils. The following tables gives the summary of the retarded pupils.
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RETARDED PUPILS HEDGE SCHOOL
Retarded
Grade I
Grade II Grade III
Grade IV
Grade V
Grade VI
Total
year
7
6
6
15
11
13
58
2 years
5
7
9
13
8
42
years
.
1
1
1
8
10
21
4 years
. .
. .
. .
. .
2
2
Total
7
12
14
25
32
33
123
Percent
10
18
17
35
38.8
50
27
KNAPP SCHOOL
1 year
3
1
6
9
6
11
36
years
2
2
2
5
6
11
28
3 years
3
. .
. .
4
1
8
4 years
. .
. .
. .
. .
Total
5
6
8
14
16
25
74
Percent
11
11
21
35
31.4
48
27
BURTON-CORNISH-OAK STREET
1 year
5
2
8
5
11
10
41
, years
3
. .
6
1
1
16
27
3 years
.
. .
1
. .
1
. .
. .
1
Total,
8
2
15
7
12
34
78
Percent
14
4
25
10
11.3
33
17
MT. PLEASANT-WELLINGSLEY-LINCOLN STREET
year
3
2
4
2
3
6
20
2 years
1
. .
4
1
1
8
15
3 years
. .
. .
1
1
1
3
4 years
.
. .
. .
. .
2
2
4
Total
4
2
8
4
7
17
42
Percent
7
5
18
10
17
40
18
8
9
4 years
·
. .
·
2
2
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There are certain conditions evident at once :
(1) The per cent retarded increases from the first grade to the sixth. This is natural as more and more reach the limit of their mental ability and drop behind.
(2) There is a lower per cent of retarded pupils at the center of the town. This is also natural as the per cent of pupils coming from foreign-speaking families is much higher at the Hedge School. An investigation shows that from 70 to 85 per cent of the children at Knapp and Hedge Schools come from families speaking a foreign language while only 20 to 30 per cent at the Cornish, Bur- ton and Mt. Pleasant Schools.
(3) The per cent retarded is much higher than it should be. One remedy for some would be to give a preprimary training to many of those who are mentally slow or handicapped by a foreign language so that they would start on an even basis with the average first grade child. The condition in the upper grades needed further study to determine whether the retarded children were doing all that could be expected of them and whether the grades as a whole were up to a reasonable standard. The results of standard tests given the different schools and grades is tabulated first and then a study of retarded pupils is made.
RESULTS OF THE LANGUAGE TEST
The Wilson Language Error Test was given to all the fourth, fifth and sixth grade pupils. This test consists of a story in which are twenty-eight common errors to be corrected by the pupils. The number of errors that the median pupil should detect is called the standard. The median pupil is the middle pupil, that is, there are as many pupils doing as well or better as there are doing as well or poorer. The results are shown in the table on the next page.
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WILSON LANGUAGE ERROR TEST RESULTS November 1926
GRADE IV Standard 8
GRADE V Standard 11
GRADE VI Standard 14
Hedge A
8
12
16
B
4
10
13
Total
5
11
15
Knapp A
7
11.5
17
B
. .
10
16
Total
7
10.5
16
Cornish A
. .
20
21
B
11
16
17.5
C
9
12
15
Total
10
16
18
Mt. Pleasant
13
17
19
Manomet
8.5
16.5
15.5
Oak Street
17
. .
. .
Chiltonville
5
11.5
11.5
Russell Mills
14
. .
. .
Cliff Street
. .
. .
Town
9
13
16
Certain conclusions are evident. Several sections at different schools were below the standard. As the grades are divided into rapid and slow groups there is naturally much variation. The general average for the town, how- ever, is above the standard. In November the Hedge School and the Knapp were below in the fourth grade, but were at the standard in the fifth and above in the sixth grades, while the results at the Cornish, Burton and Mt. Pleasant were above standard in these grades. The explanation of this difference is not difficult. At the Hedge School 84% of the children in the grades come from families speaking a foreign language at home, at
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the Knapp 73%, at the Cornish-Burton 29% and at Mt. Pleasant 23%, while at Oak Street there are none. The foreign language is a serious handicap in many of the studies. However it is gratifying to see that this handi- cap is being largely overcome during the fourth and fifth grades. The teachers at these schools deserve far more credit for obtaining the results they do than is appar- ently deserved at first glance.
In the February test a decided gain was made in all grades, so that with few exceptions the grades are not only up to, but above, the standards. The grades which were low at the Hedge and Knapp School made the larg- est gain and rank nearly as high, and in some cases high- er than many of the others. This was the result of an intensive drive by the teachers upon these types of language errors.
RESULTS OF THE READING TEST
Munroe's Standardized Silent Reading Test was given to all the pupils in grades three to seven inclusive. This test consists of series of short stories to be read and a question answered pertaining to each story. Four min- utes is allowed. From this is determined the rate, or number of words per minute, and the comprehension, or the number of stories read and questions answered cor- rectly. The results together with the standards are given on the next page.
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RESULTS-MONROE STANDARDIZED READING TEST November 1926
SCHOOL
GRADE III
GRADE IV
GRADE V
GRADE VI
Standard
Comp. 3.8
Rate 82
Comp. 7.7
Rate 122
Comp. 9.8
Rate 142
11.0
159
Hedge A
8
155
7.5
86.5
9.5
133
12
154
B
5
129
5
126
7.5_
107
10
151
Total
6
150
6
100
8
115
11
153
Knapp A
4
75
7
100
9
116
9
127
B
6
116
9
114
Total
.
. .
. .
7.5
116
9
125
Cornish
A
7
112
9
130
13
172
14
173
and
B
C
.
. .
. .
. .
10
136
9
138
Total
. .
9
135
12
155
11
155
Mt. Pleasant
7
103
9.5
136
9.5
136
11
155
Oak Street
6.5 10
9
147
·
.
Cold Spring
7
113
Wellingsley
7
99
8.5
145
. .
. .
.
Cliff Street
2
81
7.5
105
4 106
. .
. .
Russell Mills
4
86
9
114
. .
. .
. .
. .
Chiltonville
.5
28
5
108
8
113
8
131
Manomet
3
48
6
100
12
147
11.5
141
Cedarville
2
59
. .
7
155
7.5
116
Town
6 115
8
115
9
135
11
155
. .
10
145
11
147
11
156
Burton
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
Comp.
Rate
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Similar results are evident here as in the language tests, namely, that certain schools stand out much higher than others, but they are those with the less foreign parentage. Pupils cannot read with comprehension un- til they know the meaning of all the words.
One peculiar condition is evident and that is, that the third grade median rate is as high as the fourth grade. A further study of the detailed results revealed the fact that the upper 40 per cent of the third grade was reading somewhat more rapidly than the upper 40 per cent. of the fourth grade. The only reason which would explain this condition is that more emphasis has been given to silent reading the past three years and the results are becoming evident.
RESULTS OF THE ARITHMETIC TEST
In December a state wide examination in arithmetic was given under the direction of Boston University, simi- lar to one given elsewhere in the state a year ago. How- ever, this test was not then given in Plymouth nor could any samples be secured until near the date of the test this year. Only general information was given to the teachers, so that the results are not in any sense based upon a so-called drive but upon ordinary every day work. The test consisted of six parts : 50 examples in addition, 50 in subtraction, 50 in multiplication, 50 in division, 50 in fractions, and problems in business situations. The business situations were different from the usual type and were not as fair a test of the work as the others. The pupils were to work for accuracy. No time limit was specified.
In the fifth grade the three processes, addition, sub- traction, and multiplication were to be mastered. Divi- sion was added in the sixth grade, while fractions re- mained for mastery in the seventh. The work in Plym- outh was not limited to this extent.
The results secured are given on the pages following.
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FIFTH GRADE
Average Score
% Pupils-Per Score
School
No. of Pupils
A
S
M
D
BS
A
S
M
D
Hedge
39
47.6 49.9 37.9 38
22.9
66.7 43.6 12.9 17.9
40
44.7 33
26.1 26.4 17.3
27.5 17.5
2.5
5
Total
79
46.2 39.5 32
32.2 20.1
47.1 30.6
7.7 11.4
Knapp
28
48.6 48.3 39.4 44.8 25.8
67
78
32
46
21
45
43.8 34.4 40.1 16.8
4.8 42.9
4.8 38.1
Total
59
46.8 46.1 36.9 42.5 21.3
35.9 60.9 60.5 19.4
Cornish
33
46.3 44.4 40.1 44.2 15.5
27
36.4 33
36.4
Total
32
46.3 46.2 36.3 42.5 23.5
25
43.9
40.6
Burton
32
43.4 43.1 30.8 36
14.1
21.9 31.3
3.1 15.6
Total
07
45.3 44.6 35.7 40.9 17.7
24.6 37.2 12
30.9
Mt. Pleasant
37
49.7 49.4 46.7 45.9 33.1
89.1 89.1 70.2 64.8
Manomet
7
48.7 45.8 28.4 34
28.2
57
28.5 14.2 14.2
Cliff Street
4
47.7 50
39
46
9.
75
10
75
Chiltonville
4
48
38
30
29.5
8.5
25
Cedarville
5
45
35
25
32
20
60
·
.
Town
2:79
46.7 45
37.8 39.3 19.5
43.7 46.6 19.7 31.5
Median Score 1925
46 2 34.9 15
43.3 35
7.6 . .
Median Score 1926
46
44
35
47
40
11
.
Note :- Median score is for fifty towns who took the test both years. Plymouth had the test only this year.
A-Addition, S-Subtraction, M-Multiplication, 'D-Division, BS- Business Situations.
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SIXTH GRADE
Average Score
% Pupils-Per Score
School
No. of Pupils
A
S
M
D
F
BS
A
S
M
D
F
BS
Hedge
39
49.3 48
44.6 45.8 44.5 20.9
84.6 61.5 42.3 53.8 30.8 . .
40
48
47.9 40.4 42.3 44.8 25.6
55.8 58.8 29.4 41.2 20.6
76
48.7 48
42.5 44.1 44.7 23.2
70.5 60.2 35.9 47.5 25.7 . .
Knapp
28
48.6 48.7 43.8 47.8 45.3 26.3
65
69
30
65
30
3
21
48.5 48
43.4 45.3 41.8 24.8
58
70.8
4
33
12
. .
59
48.6 48.4 43.6 46.6 43.7 25.6
61.5 69.9 17
49
21
1.5
Cornish
36
48.4 47.9 45.8 48
46
27.7
63.9 72.2 47.2 69.4 25
29
46
45
38
42
40
26.2
37.9 41.3 10.3 37.9
3.4
. .
Burton
34
47
46
40
44
40
25
50
50
18
32
9
3
99
47.1 46
41.3 44.7 42
26.6
50.6 54.5 25.2 46.4 12.5
1
Mt. Pleasant
41
48
46.9 42.7 46.5 44.4 26.1
56
51.2 20
51.2 14.6
..
Manomet
8
49
48
35
41
36
21
50
75
12
12
.
Chiltonville
4
46.8 43.8 33.3 36.5 36.3 23.5
50
25
25
25
Cedarville .
. .
·
.
.
Town
264 48.1 47.2 41.8 48.9 43
25.6
58
58
25
46.2 17.8
.8
State Median Score 1925
.
Note :- State Median for 1926 is not available.
SEVENTH GRADE
% Pup.Is-Per Score
School
No. of Pupils
A
S
Average Score M D
F
BS
A
S
M
D
F
BS
7 A-I
39
48.7 49.1 45
47.7 46.3 28.7
71.8 82.1 38.5 64.1 33.3 . .
7 A-II
37
48.3 46.8 43
46.1 45.6 30.4
67.5 62.1 32.4 70.3 51.4 . .
7 B-I
37
49.5 47.1 43.7 46.6 46.4 29.7
86.4 67.6 24.3 59.4 48.6
2.7
7 B-II
35
49.1 49.1 41.2 45.7 45.5 30.6
82.8 80
20
54.3 28.6
2.9
7 C
33
48.7 47.1 42.3 47.2 46
29.3
75.7 69.7 21.2 66.6 30.3
6
7 D
38
47.6 46.4 40.3 46.5 44.4 30.2
63.1 50
21
57.9 26.3 . .
7 E
34
47.6 47.1 41.1 45.6 39.9 29.8
58.8 53
29.4 50
11.7 ..
Total
253
48.5 47.5 42.4 46.5 44.9 29.9
72.3 66.4 26.9 60.5 33.2
.02
State Median Score 1925
72
54.5 26.3 40
8.6 . .
..
.
. .
66.6 47.1 21.1 30.2
5.5 . .
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The fifth grade results show that Plymouth was higher than the average of fifty towns, although these had had the advantage of a previous test and a year's drill. The per cent of perfect scores was higher, and markedly so, in multiplication and division. A further study of more detailed comparisons showed only twelve of these towns whose total score was as high or higher than that of Plymouth.
In the sixth grade the median scores for the 1926 test are not available. The results, however, of 51 towns which took the tests both years have been sent to us. If the average scores in four operations (addition, sub- traction, multiplication and division) are added, there is one town whose total score is 188, another's 187, and a third's 186, which is also Plymouth's. In other words in a total possible score of 200, one town had one more and one town two more. These towns, too, had the advantage of a previous test and a year of study, while Plymouth's results were based on every day work. The per cent of perfect scores should be much higher in Plymouth next year as special drill exercises have been put into use.
In the seventh grade the results are high and above last year's state median but no comparative data is at hand.
RESULTS OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE TESTS
Upon a first visit to the schools it was evident that the grades varied greatly in different schools and the different sections within a given school. The question naturally arose as to whether this was due to more effi- cient teaching or to a difference in the inherent ability of the pupils ? It is possible by the use of any one of sev- eral intelligence tests to measure the general mental abil- ity of a group of pupils. The scores obtained from thou- sands of children have been used in determining the men- tal age equivalent of each score and standards established for different grades.
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The results obtained gave conclusive evidence that there was a wide range of ability in different sections as shown by the following fourth and sixth grade sec- tions :
4A
4B
6A
6B
Number in Class
36
33
27
37
Median Intelligence Quotient
79
99
89
114
Number with Intelligence Quotient Than 100 (the normal)
Less
35
17
23
3
Number With I. Q. Greater Than 100
16
4
34
Number Mentally Below Age
29
6
8
. .
Number Mentally at Age
7
17
12
1
Number Mentally Above Age
7
36
Number Chronologically Above Age
21
2
21
7
Number Chronologically at Age
15
30
5
30
Number Chronologically Below Age
1
. .
. .
Per Cent. Coming From Homes Speaking
a Foreign Language
93
24
75
21
. .
The 4A group had a rate in reading of 86 words per minute and a comprehension of 5 stories answered cor- rectly ; the 4B's rate was 136 and the comprehension 10. In the 6A group the rate was 151 and the comprehension 10 while in 6B the rate was 176 and the comprehension 14. In language the 4A median was 4 errors corrected while the 4B's was 13. In grade 6A the median was 13 and in 6B 21. These wide variations are easily accounted for by analyzing the mental ability of the pupils as shown in the above statistics.
In general there was a very close correlation between the results secured in the standard subject tests and the mental ages as determined by the intelligence tests. Each teacher was doing the best that could be reasonably ex- pected of her. The results of the intelligence tests also showed that the handicap of the foreign language at home was being overcome and that the ability of these children to do school work was materially raised from the fourth to the sixth grade.
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GENERAL SUMMARY
I have no hesitancy in stating that the well graded schools are doing excellent work in the major studies, Reading, Language and Arithmetic, and that their rela- tive standard in comparison with other towns is very high. The conditions in the rural schools will be dis- cussed later.
A STUDY OF RETARDED CHILDREN
A study was made of forty sixth grade pupils, twenty boys and twenty girls, all of whom were from thirteen to fifteen years of age, that is, from two to four years too old for their grade chronologically. Seventeen of these were mentally below the mental age standard. Of these all but one are doing poor or just fair work in some studies. There were nine mentally above age and four- teen of normal age, all of whom should be doing good. work. Instead only four are doing good work, while. eleven are fair, and eight poor. This failure to do their best is attributed to the fact that they have either lost confidence in themselves by repeated failure, or feel too old for their group. This group with few exceptions will never make any progress, Their training should be rad- ically changed. Socially and chronologically they belong to the group at the Junior High School. The work at this school should be broadened to give these this special training needed.
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