Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-04
NOW MY IDEA IS THIS!
Daily Talks With Thinking Phladelphians Subjects They
KnO,u Best

OF nlghly nervous temperament, imaginative
TO degree, but who is disposed to be radical
1 within it untold power, which, properly Ge.
Veloped, would enable it to take high
place in the world but neglected and al
lowed to go its own way unguided, could DO
great amount of damage.
"One of the greatest difficulties to be
encountered in the average pupil is the
small vocabulary which he possesses. The
English language contained some years ago
300. 900 words, which number has since been
greatly increased. There are $1,000 words
In Shakespeare's plays. The vocabulary of
the well educated person should be from
1900 to $4,000 words, yet there are very
few who reach that total.
The vocabulary of the school pupil,
among those requiring special treatment,
runs from zero to about 600 words. The
vocabulary of the average school child
should be at least 2600 words. These chill
dren are not all foreign born, many Of them
being of American parents. They are handi-
capped in most things they do because they
have not the equipment with which to ex-
press themselves.
'"The fault Is directly traceable to their
homes, but at the same time it shows that
their parents did not have the proper edu-
cation. In such homes there is little contact
between parent and child except perhaps the
physical contact when fathers slipper OF
ously with the person of the child.
ION the other hand we have children IN
the elementary grades who are listed as
bright children. They seem to be in
formed more or less on all the common
subjects, can talk comparatively well and
are able to express themselves well and
freely Many children have vocabulary
running as high us 5000 words But here
the family influence is apparent The par
ents talk to the children and with them, too.
Current events and subjects of interest are
freely discussed in that family and the
child absorbs the content of these discus
sions.
Examinations Necessary
Zone Of the great difficulties is en-
countered in making the tests necessary -
| establish the status Of each child. From
the nature of their cases an individual ex-
animation Is required for each one. In
fact. such an examination is just as neces-
| sary as an individual medical examination
would be. The two really go hand in hand.
| PERSONALLY, believe in examinations.
| They give a child an incentive to work !:
| they put disciplinary force back or
| him that helps immensely. When you ask
| should such examinations be psychological
| I should answer that all examinations arc
| psychological. The only thing that makes
us regard them otherwise is the fact that
we have become used to some, while others
| are new to us.
| "But to develop such classes to a high
point Of achievement, where we can turn
| out capable children, requires plenty Of able
teachers and considerable money. SO until
| 7 have had time to study the problem #
the special child as 1t exists in the city
TO-DAY, to make general survey and many
individual observations and inquiries and
until ] can find out how much money will
be available to carry out such plans as |
NAV be able to formulate. ! am not going
| to he oyersanguinc of results or in too
biz a hurry to make predictions.
~ realize that the problem before me
is a very big one, so big that It makes mo
think and wonder. There will be many
dIficulties to overcome and any growth can
only be slow. But ] am rewarded by the
thought that IL | am successful in the way
that I want to be l will have been of some
service TO coming generations in Phia-
delphia,"