The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-29
MENTAL GAGUE FOR
 SCHOOL CHILDREN
New Test Being Applied by
 Evanston Professor
REMEDY FOR LAZINESS
Some Students Are Eye Minded.s Test for Accuracy Is Found in Repeat
 ing Numbers
From the chIcago Herald.

From the Chicago Herald
 What are your Mental measure ments?'
 Are you 'Eye-mlnded" or Ear mlnded?"
 There is nothing freakish about thsss queries. they form part of disoov- cry made by Prof. Nathan Wilbur Helm. principal of Evanston academy. that may figure largely in school life of the fu- ture.
 As Dr. William J. Hickman, head of tho psychological laboratory of the Chi cago municipal court, ascertains by tests whether his patients are neuropaths. psychopaths or sociopaths, and makes recommendations accordingly to the ju- venie court, so does Professor Helm classify his summer scholars and adapt their studies and teaching to their re- vealed minds.
 So certain is Professor Helm that his
 mental measurement" are success that he intends making the tests a reg ular feature of the Evanston academy records, to be filed with the physical fix- ures compiled by Athletic Director Lewis Omer
 
 found by Professor Helm to be .eve- minded;' that is. one who remembers things he sees; or "ear-minded," who only retains things in his memory that he ha sheard of changing of the he has heard of. A cahnging of the pills are as bright as any. First student Is given the "ear test"
 Repeat after me now" says, "1s, 2a S."
 Test for Accuracy Most pupils can repeat that number without hesitation. Now repeat: 27, s2. a. G." Now reepat: 27 S294 G." ohce m while a student will be found whose memory is not retentive enough to give the four numbers, but others will be found who can give five. six or seven numbers in their proper consecutive or der.
 The student Is then told narrative of moderate length and is asked to repeat IL as accurately as possible. Some have been found to remember certain inconse- quentlal matter sand miss the main facts altogether Others grasp the essentials and naturally eliminate all the nonessen- tials while few have a mind for de- tails and repeat accurately the whole narrative
 Eye Test Differs
 In giving a similar ''eye test" a great direrence is found in the ability of stu dents to remember what they hear and what they see. Some are able to repeat longer list of figures if they have seen and others arc able to repeat more accurately what they have heard A painting of "The Cleaners" was shown a young woman yesterday in the school and she was told to exam me II closely for a minute and then told to give what she had seen. She gave 1t all quite accurately down to the cart standing on the field.
 How many wheels do you see on tho eartf' asked tho professor. Why. four. of course" she replied with confidence. and was considerably embarrassed when she was informed that sho had seen only two.
 New she had mind that retained the essentials and that did not grasp details, Professor Helm explained
 Such simple thing as asking a pupil what he received last Christmas has been found to prove valuable mental test One student will reel off list of a dozen articles without hesl- tation, while another will have to stop and think of them. one at time.
 Indeed, 1t has been found that by asking questions of their home life the student unconsciously gives infor- r1ation which accounts largely for his dullness In studies. Much illness, be- Ins indulged and petted at home. are responsible for some of these cases.
 Excessive timidity Is also frequently found to be what ails student in- stead of dullness.
 Shyness a Handicap We have a rather brilliant boy with a terrible handicap Of self-conscious- ness and shyness" said Professor Helm. The boy has a remarkable mental ca pacity. wonderful retentive memory. but becomes so frightened the moment he hears his own voice, particularly in a room full of people. that he loses almost every bit of Knowledge he pos sesses. His intense self-consciousness makes him appear both dull and stub born. but his ability Is above the aver- age"
 Even azness. which may be due. to variety of causes has it's own antidotes. One of these. Professor Helm | admits. Is to leave school, either to an- other school or home flor change of environment"
 'I find that individual treatment is necessary in this work. It cannot bo done in classes. In each case our ob- | joct is to find the avenue of approach for each student So imperative is it l to find out the causes of dullness. or | see ming inability to learn, that be- l lieve some system of mental measure- ments in the public schools will final | ly be necessity | It was stated also that physical causes are occasionally responsible for l "dullness" and that an anaemic condi- l tion of the blood is one of these causes.