Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-11-24
Soldiers by the Psychological
Board to Determine
As to Mentality.
PROFESSORS in MAJORITY
College Sharps to Decide as
To Fitness Of Those Who
Will Do the Fighting.

Camp Taylor, KY, Nov. 23.-The
governments plan of keeping drafted
men together by counties and states
is not a good one, according to men,
bers of the Psychological board at
Camp Zachary Taylor, who are hold
ing intelligence tests for every man
in camp.
More than 10000 men have been
examined by the board since il began
its work a week ago. Their records
show that certain organizations that
are composed of the men from the
same section of a state have received
a very low classification, while others
are correspondingly high. For in
stance, one company that was exam
ined did not have single man
classed better than average" and
a large percentage ranged between
inferior" and Every inferior.
This situation presentsquite prob
lem to the company commander, as
he must appoint some of these men
non.commissioned officers. In other
companies an entirely different Situa-
ton existed. A large number of men
would be found who possessed better
than average intelligence, so many, in
fact, that often there were not vacan-
cies for half of them to be non-com-
missioned officers.
The psychological board conduct
ing the examination at the local camp
was specially organized by the sur
geon general of the army. 1t coll
sists of four medical officers and six
civilian members, all Of whom are
university professors who have Of
fered their services to the govern
ment.
After the men are examined their
work is graded by scores ranging
from zero to Ala The scores are di-
vided into five grades, from A to Z.
For man to make A grade his score
must be between 800 and Ala They
are known as the Every superior"
grade and are characterized as being
skilled i'm abstract thinking.
The examinations are held every
morning in section of the base hos
pital. An entire company is put
through the tests at one time. The
examination is made on printed
pamphlet, consisting of about twenty
pages. Each man is given pencil
and under the guidance of an instruct
or he is told just what to do in each
test. For instance, the first test con-
sists Of row of squareS.printed across
the face of the pamphlet, all different
sizes but nearly the same. The in
structor tells the men to place a cross
in the largest square.
Another test is 10 glance at a row
of figures and underline the highest
and the lowest.
The illiterates and others who fail
at this written examination are then
given individual examinations. They
are taken TO room and shown me-
chanical parts. such as bicycle bells
and locks, which have been Ia
ken apart. II they show aptitude
in putting these parts together they |
are given rating according to me-
chanical skill, and still considered
good men for the army. If they fail
It this they are given the various tests
Used in Predetermined institutions and
,migrant stations. such as putting pic
ing picture blocks together and NOV
ng various shaped blocks around so
hat they will fit into aquare, Fail
no these simple tests man Is rated
IS being deficient in mentality and is
discharged. In one group Of 800 that |