The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-07
Precocious Ones Will Also Be Noted
And An Average Of Mentality
Sought.
MAY HAVE SOLUTION HERE
Model School of Normal Department
Used for Giving Individual
instruction.
Bemidji and Beltrami county prin-

Bemidji and Beltrami county prin-
cipals received blanks today from
State Supt. Schulz, who has inaugur-
ated a statewide census of mentally
retarded children attending the grade
schools of Minnesota. -
The object of the census, which is
being conducted by joint committee
of the Minnesota Psychological con-
ference and the department of SUPER
intendence of the Minnesota Educa-
tional association, is to find out the
number of backward children in the
public schools and so to adapt the
study courses to them that greater
efficiency will accrue both from the
standpoint of the average students
and the laggards.
The census is the first of its kind
ever attempted in educational history
and is regarded as extremely import
The census will determine the nor
NAL age of children at each school
grade and the degree of variability in
age as regards each grade. The re-
suits will also furnish the basis by
which the courses for each grade in
the school may be adapted to the av-
in
The canvass will show how long the
children of each grade have attended
the elementary schools, disregarding
the kindergarten Each teacher will
also make careful inquiry as to the
number of years each student has
spent in schools with the number OF
grades finished. Children between
the ages of five and eighteen will be
considered and the age at the last
birthday will be that which prevails.
The grades covered will be from the
first to the eighth and the figures on
the boys and girls will be kept sepa-
rately, At the conclusion of the CEN
sus figures will be obtainable on the
following points:
Number of years each student has
spent in school with present age and
grade
Number in each grade who repeat
ed the work of the grade.
Number promoted at the end of
this year.
Number who failed of promotion at
the end of this year.
Number in each grade who received
special promotion within this year.
Number "demoted''-sentt to lower
grade within this year.
Number who left school perma-
nently within this year.
Number that left school perma-
nently within this year who were
known to stop school together.
The census will thus show not only
the number of laggards in school but
also the extent of the precocious class
and the general average. The results
of the investigation which will be
received by Mr.. Schulz during the
early summer will not be tabulated
by the committee before next winter
and possibly not for year.
ct is the most significant and
thorough psychological investigation
for educational purposes ever taken
anywhere" said Professor Miner,
chairman of the committee. 'The
committee has formulated the ques-
ton blanks largely on the reports of
the Russell Sage foundation in it's
publications on mental retardations
and the results should be of vast in
terest and significance. y
The committee Of the psychological
conference and the Minnesota Educa-
tional association, which compiled the
questions and will tabulate the. find
ings in the census, is composed OF
Professor Miner, University Of Min
nesota, chairman; W. r. Webster,
principal Minneapolis East High
school; Superintendent F.. b. Lurton.
Anoka; A. M. Gillette, Minneapolis,
and DR.. H. H. Woodrow, University OF
Minnesota. 81
Prof. W. P. Dyer says that the To-
cal schools have been working on this
question for some time and have
reached a partial solution by placing
backward children in the model
Continued on last page.)