The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-11
COLUMBIA ASPIRANTS
GIVEN NOVEL TESTS
Psychology to Be Used to Determine
Their Capacity for Further As
sanitation of knowledge. ].

Acting on theory, now well established,
that a certain proportion of the students
who enter colleges have brains incapable
IT absorbing further knowledge, the au-
thorities of Columbia university are com
plling series of psychological tests which
each entrant must pass. Columbia is the
first university to use this method OF
wedding out applicants. Its action was
inspired by the wonderful results obtained
in the army where men were chosen III
hundreds for executive and minor posi-
tions through the use of psychological
tests quickly and easily applied
TO the mothers and fathers of children
approaching the college age it may seem
terrible thought that regardless of care
| ful rearing and the best of environment
their child may be one of the unfortunate
| few who are unable to utilize more than a
secondary school education. Yet it is
true that a small proposition, sufficient
to be a drag on nearly every college, have
minds that may be likened to storage
batteries, capable of being charged just SO
far and no further. 1t is this class OF
students that Columbia university intends
to keep out by the use of psychology and
not only avoid their hindrance in class
rooms but also help them to reach more
quickly the walk of life for which they
are fitted.
! The department of psychology at Co
| lumbia Teachers college is now preparing
the tests which are to be given candidates
! for admission. These will determine the
entrants perception, Judgment and alert
ness, and explore the mental processes
involved in such studies as mathematics
| history, languages and theoretical and ap-
piled sciences. The methods of testing
are standardized and grouped, to be given
to those supposedly having the mind OF
a normal person over 10.
The psychologists in the army camps
who had charge of rating the intelligence
of drafted men, became so expert that a
line of several hundred men could be
moved continuously, each being classified,
with a percentage Of error less than out
of 100 In one large draft camp person
mel officer examining negroes was in the
habit Of glancing at each man in turn and
instantly asking him set of questions
TO show his mental age. Where were
You born? How old are your
Then leaning across the desk, the Off
Ger would whisper:
| Have you any ancestors?
would assume that ancestors were some
thing in the nature of coolies, and he
would offer hasty and vehement denial
Of any such property
Psychological tests were used more eX.
tensively in the United States air service
than in any other branch Of the army
From the time a man applied for his IN
itial examination in the flying corps he
| I. Il
The men who are flying today must pas.
both psychological and physical eXamina
tious at regular intervals All tliers must
take what is known as the 'rebreather
test. designed to show whether the aya
tor retains his faculties at high attitudes
Entering room fitted with startling
array Of apparatus he IS given small
card upon which Is printed in fine type
a series of instructions he Is to follow II
taking the test. He is given a moment tt
read and absorb the information and tn,
card is then taken from his hand. 4
board Of doctors watches his subsequen
actions and rates him upon the precision
and accuracy with which he follows tin
!. written orders
1 While breathing and rebreathing oNy
gen from tank, thereby duplicating
the CONDITIONS 10 be louhu upon ny IN
to high attitudes the aviator must pa
out lights, correct an Indicator on a dia
/ and regulate the speed Of motor All
of the work is done with hand an,
I one foot while the doctors continually
: take his blood pressure and respiration
listen to his heart, and test his eyes.
Prof. L. NJ Terman of Stanford univel
: sity, All cminet psychologist, discussn
/, the value Of these tests, has pointed on
the futihty of uncoyering the student
), entire knowledge of his previous schoc
J., work, and fguratively suggests that shaft
: be sunk and samples Of the applicant
brain power be extracted for assay 4
: psychologists agree that differences in il
dividual endowment exist at birth am
! lare emphasized with progress toward ma
ttrity -Nev Work Timac