Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-30
WILL MEASURE
MINDS SAME
AS SUITS SOON
Schools Here Start Work on
Children Gauging Their
Capabilities.
SYSTEM is SUCCESSFUL

Minds may be measured for jobs just
as bodies are measured for suits within
gAe next few years.
Ehis theory is being advanced by local
scientists, who have been following the
work of school authorities in measuring
the mental capacities Of children in the
city schools.
One OF the most interesting depart
ments in connection with the schools Is
being directed by Miss Katrina Myers at
city school No l, where the mental ca
pacities of school children are' being
measured and cataloged so that each
child can be given instruction in keeping
with his ability to absorb knowledge.
This department, although in its in
fancy, promises to develop into one OF
the most important branches in the
school system and is receiving great en-
coryagement from E. o. Graft, school su-
pefintendent, as well as other educational
authorities
PLAN TO USE SYSTEM
IN ALL GRADES.
At present the work is confined to
those children who are thought to be
either subnormal or supernormal, but 1t
is the dream Of educators to put the sys-
TEN In operation in every grade here.
This is being done with great success
in other cities, it is explained.
The idea Of measuring mental capacity
is 10 give each child a chance to de
velop according to his natural ability,
Miss Myers explained today This will
eliminate the possibility OF round pegs
getting into square holes and vice versa
Furthermore, it viii prove beneficial
to all concerned, the brilliant being per-
mttted to advance rapidly, the average
to advance normally and the slow wit
ted to spend more time IN learning,
teachers say.
Mental measurements are taken by us
. ing a series Of tests that sound intel
lectual possibilities. Questions have been
prepared for all ages ranging from 8
to the adult age. They are carefully
asked and when the examination Is
completed the child IS rated in the
ratio Of his mental age to his physical
age.
It has been learned through phycho-
logical research that minds do not grow
at the same pace as bodies. For in
stance, it is possible for a 9-year-old
child to have a mental age of IS or
15-year-old child to have mental age
% 9. Those examined are rated on
percentage basis, from 90 to no being
considered normal, according to Miss
Myers
CAN ADVANCE
STUDENTS PROPERLY.
With this system established in the
city schools it would be possible to adj
vance each student as rapidly as his
mental capacity would permit instead of
submitting every child to the same
amount of instruction.
The department in charge OF this WORK
in the local schools is very small at
present, according to Mr.. Graf. but it
is very efficient and forms On excellent
base on which the work can be extended
The science of measuring intellects was
first compiled in g standardized form by
Or. Alfred Binet, Paris, France. in 1905.
Since that time it has been widely i'm
proved and is now being used extern
sively.
The system was adopted in the United
States army during the world war and
proved of great assistance to the per
sonnet department in assigning the mil
lions of recruits to tasks for which they
are best suited.
Tt is also being recognized by large
corporations where hundreds Of men are
employed, according to educators, ana
il is predicted that before many years
a department for mental measurements
will be a regular adjunct to all large
employment departments, thus stimulat-
ing efficiency along all lines of labor