The Washington times., 1910-10-26
Pennsylvania University Pro-
lessor Conducts Experiment
With IncorrigibleS.
SCHOOLS DECLARED
UNTITLED FOR WORK
Psychologists Accomplish Results
With Thirteen City Lads Treat
ed at Laboratory.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, oct. %
THE public schools are not equipped
20 handle the average troublesome, ad-
descent boy.
Their methods of training and cor
rection have so far been woefully made
quate"
This has been proved. along with
many other things, by the experiment
with a special class Of boys made last
summer at the psychological laboratory
and clinic Of the University of Penn
syIvania
DR.. Lightner Wilmer, director of the
department. made this statement, not
in a spirit of criticism, but as a matter
of fact discovered by painstaking OBJ
servatiOn and study.
To make these observations at close
range thirteen boys, with evident pro-
pensities toward misunderstanding, tru-
Rncy, and generally obstreperous be-
havior at home and in school, were
gathered into a class last summer and
two experts, Prof. Norman Cameron, Of
the department of psychology of the
West Chester State Normal School, and
Francis Maxheld were put in charge Of
them
Prof CamerOn's report of his work
has just been turned over TO Or. Wit
mer. It embOdics a character study of
each boy. and an account Of the meth
DDS used to train the class and develop
knowledge and self-respOnsibility.
Good Effects of Course.
While none Of the youngsters grew
wings or showed signs Of incipient
sanctity at the end Of the course, they
all increased in manIiness, got A
working knowledge of the usages OF
honor, became good baseball umLfres.
developed their muscles. learned how
20 swim, how to use tools. and how
TO turn out a respectable piece Of car
pentry- They learned a whole lot OF
other things. gained by frequent
visits TO the Commercial Museum. the
Geological Garden. factories. and other
places Of interest 70 boys
Prof Cameron's report begins with a
description Of the thirteen boys who
were gathered from various homes.
from societies, and other places. Their
ages ranged from eleven to fifteen
years. Some were overgrOwn, and
others were understood Some we're
DULLES. others were coWards.- Their
mentality ranged all the way from
middle grade iubeCility to marked
ability.
Characteristics of the Bows.
In his observation of the boys char
acters, and tendencies when they first
came into the class, he makes the fol-
lowing psychological studies:
'One boy showed early that he wanted
TO boss the others and run things in
general He lounged about his seat and
was a source of annoyance, though the
boys seemed willing to let him lead
them. He was overbearing with the lit
tie fellows.
Another boy of nervous disposition
was a great talSer. and constantly pIav-
ed with the boy next to him. Another
little fellow looked as good as gold and
liked TO come TO school. Another be-
haved like sneak, and still another
was sullen and shy"
With this assortment Of unmanage-
ables. which included six moral delin-
QuenIS, four backward pupils, and sew
eral under probation Of the juvenile
court. Prof Cameron took I'D his work
IN describing his methods. he says:
Growth of Class Spirit.
"A daily program was arranged. This
consisted Of three hours Of intellectual
training in the school room, one hour
of manual work and two hours Of physi-
cal exercise. Nature study was given
when convenient The first days men
tai examination developed wide differ
ences between the boys mental acuuisi-
lions. As result, il was necessary to
deal with all differently. Individual in
struction was given and each boy was
given peculiar disciplinary treatment.
THE regular books Of the public
schools were used and usual school room
methods pursued. but the teacher came
in close contact with the pupil"
Instead Of beginning manual work in
the usual way, the boys We're given a
concrete piece Of work TO do They
were made to manufacture a windmill
In addition, physical exercise was in
sisted on daily, and the boys responded
notably to this part of -tha training