The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-17
Is WORK Of GREAT MERIT
NEW LINE OF EDUCATIONAL RE
SEARCH TAKEN Up IN
IOWA
IT IS PRACTICAL CHILD STUDY
knowledge Obtained Great Help
&c Teachers, Enabling Them to
Avoid Overburdcning the
Childish Mind.


DIES MONIES, Dec. 1G.-The Iowa Child
study society, in cooperation with the
department OF psychology of the state
university, has started an original lire
of educational investigation in Iowa, the
cNpiana ton and Illustration OF which will
occupy nearly the entire time cf the
society III its meeting here Dec 2G at
ihe time of the autumn meeting of the
State Teachers associat ton.
for many Years since the rise of the
widespread interest in child study among
teachers and psychologists superintend-
dents Of school have felt the need of "A
definite system of simple and practical
tests, which could be used by the average
teacher, which should not involve the
use of expensive and unprocurahie APP
paratus and which should determine the
physical and mental condition OF the pupil
IN his relation to normal hygienic stand
ards
his is the work which the Child Study
society Is seeking to have taken up. A
committee was appointed a year ago to
prepare a series of practical tests for
his purpose and to secure the necessary
apparatus The committee consists Of
Prof. G. I. w Patrick, of the state uni
Versity Supt. II. B. Hayden and Supt.
Z. D., Findlay. The department Of psy-
0loiogy in the state university, of which
Prof. Patrick is the head, had been work.
ing along this line for more than a Year
previously. A class in child study in
this department had made tests Of about
2C0 children in the public schools in Iowa
City in the spring of 1898. About the
same number We're tested in the spring
OF 1900
METHOD PROVES SUCCESSFUL.
worked out by DR.. c. Z. Seashor4, Of the
department of psychology. who invented
many of the new instruments now being
used in the tests. The instruments and
methods have all been thoroughly testel
in the psychological laboratory of the
state university, and the trials Of the
tests referred to led to many improve
ments, which are now embodied in a
se-ies of tests of about Loo children in
the schools of West Des Moines. The
test in brief are a follows:
/ Registration and Obs6rvation-This
includes % the recording Of data OBJ
tanned from the teachers and the school
registers in regard to age, grade, stand
ing, physical condition and mental abiI-
lty. and (2) systematic observation in re-
gard to condition of throat and nose,
deVe;Opmental defects, signs of defective
nutrition, balance, mobility, irritability
steadiness, speech and breathing, man
nerS, etc.
>. Physical Measurements and statis-
ucs-Thc height, weight, pulse, cnest
measure, chest expansion and lung ca
paeity are measured. Then statistics are
collected to determine the distribution of
the child'S time in mental and physical
work play and sleep. Notes are also
made on diseases that the child may have
nag and on the present apparent condi-
JOH of health.
3. Fatigue-A so-called fatigue curve
is obtained by means of a new lnstru-
lnent called the ogrograph This lnetrr-
ment gives q graphic record OF the
amount of work that can be done by q
particular set of muscles. The fatigue
curve SiVGSi an exact answer to the fol-
l%W ;I9 1 Questions How strong is the
and how good is his control over his
bOuily movements?
Sight-There is nothing new in this
test. Examination is made for near
si2htedness, astgmatisln. errors in the
eye muscles and other signs of eye weak
ness.
5. Hearing-The childs hearing ability
is tested for each ear. The test is made
with an audiOmeter, q new and delicate
instrument invented by. DR.. Seashore.
&. Musical Ability-One of the condi-
ions for the enjoyment and production of
music is the ability to notice differences
in pitch. The childs ability to detect
differences in pitch is measured by means
of a graded series of tuning forks.
:. Attention and Volition-ln this test
new instrument, called the psychereU-
meter is used 1t is an instrument nv
which capacity for mental work may be
measured. The child is required to
make lot determinations and selective vo-
Htions, ali Of The same kind and under
the same conditions The record shows
I'D how long It takes to do it. (2) how
.ccurGtely IL is done, CD the degree 9f
continuous application of attention, and
81 control of voluntary movements.
VALUE OF THE TESTS.
"These experiments have a three~fold
value" said Prof Patrick. First. they
are practical tests of direct advantage
10 the Individual children, revealing 20
ment in respect to height weight, IA
tgUe. sight hearing, etc; second they
give 10 the university students instruc-
ZION in child study and training in the
use Of methods and apparatus; third,
they furnish Il COLLECTION of data OF great
; Value to the sciences of teaching and
psychology. Could these studies be made
upon larger number of children III
many cities of the state, the scientific
NalUe Of the data thus gathered would
he exceedingly great. The present series
Of tests IS, however, somewhat expert
mental It's aim is to determine how
many Of these exercises are of practical
value and how much of this kind OF work
It may be possible and profitable for
t'achers i'll the public schools 10 under
take.
'''rhe results are private and are com
piled and anaylZed by the Instructor and
principal of the school. If defects are
discovered, for instance of sight, hear
ing. nervous condition or muscular con-
trGl, the principal may advise the gar
: cnts of the child and proper attention be
given to the renledying of the defect
Nothing, however, is compulsory or Off
cial Valuable data are collected which
may be used If desired by pupils, teach
ers or parents. In some cases a Dhysi-
clans examination may be recommended
in others special kinds of exercise. rest
A excuse from certain forms of strain
A change Of seat, etc, may be found ad-
Nyisable."
IN CHARGE OF A WOMAN.
The tests now being made in Des
Moines Will cover only the children in
the grades-to the number of about LOCO
This work is under the direction Of DR.
. Marian A Howe and Is q nart of hey