Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-14
LATEST FAD FOR SCHOOLS
Physical Condition Of Children Determined
by the Ergograph
CHICAGO PUPILS PUT TO THE TEST
Educational Progress In the states of
New York ana Mnssnchusetts
shown by stntistics-Edu-
cntionaI Notes.
HlCAGo PUPILS PUT TO THE TEST

The very latest fad devised ana put in
operation by Chicago educators Is the ergo
graph. 1t Is the invention OF an Italian
genius and is intended to ascertain the
vital energy and nervous and physical CON
diton OF children. Several tests Of the con-
triyance were made in one OF the schools
and several interesting results obtained.
The instrument measures general strength
in kilogrammeters indicating the result in
writing the test being made on the pulling
strength OF the middle finger. The pupil is
seated at a table and his right arm and
hand are firmly fastened to sloping board,
the middle finger being free to act. This
finger is placed in loop Of wire attached
to the ergograph at the other end of the
table. The string is attached to sliding
index, with pointer, which runs along
metric scale. Attached to the moving index
is a weight suspended over pulley and
hanging down toward the floor.
AS a metronome ticks off the seconds the
pupil pulls the string and let's it go back,
continuing to pull Until unable to move the
sliding index, or, in other words, lift the
weight. One of the experimenters counts the
time with stop watch. The strength of the
pulse as measured on the metric scale is
shown from this. An exact measure of the
lifting strength of the pupil Is in Klogram-
meters. the metric measure equal to 2.2 foot
pen which marks the length of the strokes Of
the pull on a paper covering a moving
cylinder on another instrument placed near
the ergograph. The manuometer test Is an
other given to learn the fatigue conditions.
The grip test is given and by gripping with
the right and left hands the strength is
shown by indicator and the general
strength concluded.
The first boy tested by this latest con-
IT,, 1fa,,N
Harders. robust, hearty lad of 13, the son
of German parents and the picture of health.
After all the other muscles of his arm had
been anxiously strapped into uselessness he
wggled his second finger until the eyes OF
the experts" bulged with astonishment.
The only comparison they are able to make
is with a series of experiments made in ST.
Louis ten years ago.
william smashed the st. Louis record into
smithereens. He wiggled his finger until the
"experts'' grew dizzy and then wiggled 1t
more. Then he decided that he was being
guyed and quit the game before he broke the
machine The experts solemnly declare that
William Is a remarkable boy.
Twenty other pupils were examined, and
some were found to have more endurance
than others. This was regarded as remark
able discovery The hearing of one boy was
found to be somewhat impaired. This was
communicated to his teacher, and the boy
will he given a front seat hereafter This
fact regarding the hearing was not ascer-
tained from the wiggling of the second
finger in the ergograph but by the judicious
use of the audiometer.
It is intended to test nearly 1000 children.
1t is expected definite facts and hgures on
the physical and nervous condition OF the
children can be gained. These will be com
piled in June. Conclusions Will be drawn
and recommendations made in regard TO
prosrams and methods to the school board
and the teachers.
New York Schools.
The annual report of the superintendent
cf schools of New York state shows that
the number Uf children attending school
some portion of lact year was In the towns
477451, and in the cities 691543 max
ing n total of 1168. .994 for the state This
show. a decrease in the towns OF 399i5
and an increase in the cities of 5,740 The
average daily attendance in the towns was
3l924O and in the cities 5OS,4l2 showing
an average attendance for the entire state OF
S27652 Comparing these figures with those
OF the previous year the attendance in the
towns decreased 12946. while that in the
cities increased 20,334
The number of licensed teachers employed
was 30. $50, an increase OF 749 over the pre-
yious year The amount paid for teachers
salaries was $15, 156,27S, an increase of 1906,
2lS over the previous year. The average an
nual salary paid during the last year was
$51675, an increase OF $21.S2 over the pre-
vious year. AS there were S69 teachers who
had graduated from normal schools and a
much larger number of training class teach
ers employed during 1S97-9S than 1S96-97
the statistics indicate that communities are
willing to give better salaries to profess
sionally trained teachers
The sum of S1,057,979 was expended for
buildings, sites and repairs in the towns and
$7553569 in the cities, making total in the
state OF $S,6ll, ,54S. This shows an increase
in the total expenditures in the state over
the previous year OF s212,s72. The total
value OF school houses and sites in the
state as reported last year was S7l,S32. .511,
an Increase of $5,754,9l1 over the previous
year The total expenditures for all pur-
poses connected with the public schools OF