The record-union., 1899-10-01
A NEW IDEA IN EDUCATION.

Chicago has introduced a new factor
into her school system. It is expert
mental, however, and therefore no full
adoption Of it will take place until
there has been exhaustive trial. 1t con-
sists of ascertainment of the individual
capacity of pupils to undertake and
complete tasks. For this purpose the
ergograph, new instrument. is used,
application of which detects and signi-
fes the earliest symptoms of fatigue
on the part Of the pupil engaged in
study and the working out Of given
problems.
This relates. it is claimed, to both
physical and mental WEAKNESS. The
instrument has been some time used in
the German schools, and is reported
TO have given entire satisfaction. II
all is true that is claimed for it, it will
prove a godsend, indeed. If we are to
be able to ascertain accurately by re-
peated applications of the little instru-
ment just the amount of mental and
physical strain a child can undergo and
retain its normal state, that is, not
receive injury, then we will be able to
grade the tasks Of pupils according TO
their actual capacity to grasp and un-
derstand and according to their physi-
cal power TO endure the toll Of study,
for study is labor in the fullest sense.
Thus, it will be evident, we will never
be in danger of everlasting a child.
We will not be confined to the judg-
ment Of the teacher as to what the
pupil can endure without harm, a judg-
ment that at the very best must be
faulty, since the teacher cannot possi-
bly, know what is the exact physical
condition Of all Of his or her pupils
at any one given time.
The tests thus far made in Chicago
are reported as exceedingly interest
ing For instance, it is found that
boys at the age of 8, as a rule. have
relatively much more vigor and power
Of endurance, mental and physical.
than girls Of the same age, and that
capacity for sustained mental effort
has a direct and little varying relation
TO hight and weight of the child 3
body. 1t is very true that scientists
declared that doctrine long ago. but it
has not been SO generally accepted by
educators as was it's due. The ergo
graph comes now to confirm the scien-
tific declaration and convince the
doubling.
This justification is said to go to the
extent of proving that as a rule the
precocious in physique are correspond
ingly precocious mentally. But after
the ergograph shall have given the
conductor Of a class or school the facts
as to mental and physical capacity,
there will remain the greater task and
higher duty of using that knowledge
wisely for the benefit of the class or
school. Grading in the light of such
knowledge becomes a very much more
difficult task than before. for it viii
be found that pupils, and their parents
especially viii frequently resent plac-
ing, on the showing Of the ergograph.
since it viii very frequently call for
the placement of child in position
that the parent and the child. one or
the other, considers humiliating.
Failures to pass to higher grades
within a period the ambition of the
child and the vanity of the parents
measures, will be visited in wrath upon
the teacher, and his or her reading Of
the ergograph will be challenged. But
no teacher is fit for the place who
has not the courage to do his or her
duty, regardless of the clamor of par
ents or the complaints of pupils. The
courageous teacher will, as rule. find
the school authorities standing behind
and supporting him or her When they
fail to do so, and there is no charge
against the teacher of incompetency.
unrestrained temper and bad conduct,
and when only duty-doing brings re-
proach from those who choose the in
structor, the sooner the latter leaves