The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-06-26
UNJUST TO CHILDREN.
Not Fair to Ridicule Their Answers to
Test Questions.

1t one happens to know the answer to
any proposition the wrong answer usually
appears to be mark of appalling ignorance.
The wsest man may be shown up as a
first-class ignoramus by facing him with
a series of questions on matters that are
entirely strange to him, and yet superior
adults continue to extract fictitious
amusement from the laundering answers
given by school children in the course of
more or less stupid examinations
One Of the latest examples of this sort
is based on a test in Cleveland public
school, which included these four ques-
tons: Define the first person. Explain the
composition of the blood. What is meant
by capital punishment? What is a Jobs
comforter
One pupil gave these answers: The first
person was Adam. Blood is composed OF
red corkscrews and white corkscrews \
Jobs comforter is what you put in a babys
mouth to keep it quiet. Capital punish
mcnt is killing people. In some Of our
states people are hung and in others they
are put to death by elocution.
This may be crratic information from
the pedagogical viewpoint, and vet the boy
revealed an intelligence that Is worthy OF
respect. The young idea in learning how to
shoot is easily confused by new words and
verbal simlarities What this pupil had
learned about the composition Of the blood
was probably wholly from the instructive
discourse of the teacher, and very likely
the teacher mumbIed her words When he
is little older the boy will undoubtedly
be able to tell the fundamental difference
between coIl>scrcw and corpusclc, but
at present it is a matter OF minor import
ancc
Likewise he may have a very good reason
for his definition OF Jobs comforter.
and although hc may have exaggerated the
effects Of clocution he undoubtedly had the
light idea ot most OF it. In one point he
was absolutely right, and that was in his
definition of the first person" as Adam
II this was rot the definition desired TX
the teacher, it was her own fault for not
making the question specific.
1t does not seem like square deal to
poke Jun ut children for their ingenious
| answers. The mental processes of child
arc deserving ot greater respect. AS a rule
they are marvellous. working far more rap
IDLY and with much greater tcnacity than
those Of an older Development The aver
age brain really becomes duller as it grows
older Tho extraordinary fcats in tho ac
QUESTION of knowledge arc to he found in
extreme youth, and the mental progress
of an intelligent infant shows a speed that
is far more wonderful than that OF col
| lege professor
Early mental progress i concerned Who'll
| " with gaining 'Nysical and mental cx-
ncriences and building up a foundation Of
| knowledge. The later stages consist merely
| of developing what is already possessed and
proceeding by an application OF rules and
methods that are already well understood
| The really awcnspitng stages of mental
development are between the ages OF SIX
months and twelve years " hat happens
after the latter age is largely a mechanical
continuation and may be taken for
granted.
| 1t is the arduous business of childhood
TO acquire tlst principles Enlightenment
| that comes later is concerned mostly with
technical specialties and general infoIma-
| ton" In the latter field we do not expect
a child to know very much, But We do
| expect more from intelligent adults and
hose ON the threshold OF maturity.
For revelations of ahysmaI ignorance the
| attest nlizc ought to 60 to group OF stu
| Tents IN the University Of Chicago An
;wars IN a recent general information
quiz held hy one of the professors exposed
| 'hesc strange hcIiefs, Disraeli WAS An Irish
uatrot, Gesard IS a German statesman
be name OF cigar, an English statesman
very active in the present war, and the
| zero OF "Cloizter in the Hearts" Lloyd
| George Is the King OF England thinner
man Is ball player, prize fighter, and
a restaurant keeper on Dearborn Street.
Iotfrc is a prominent Russian soldier.
Not single student could identity the
'Wizard of Menlo Park. but several Of
them did show their acquaintance with
the historic places Of Ermope 10y describing
the Alhambla as "a theatre in London.
quiz on general information might be de
viscd that would battle almost any we'll
informed person, but certainly there is
no shadow of excuse for any college stu
lent going wrong on tho questions of con,
temporary personality here gven.-Provi-
dcncc journal.