Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-03
School Mems Club
Hears Psychologist

The kennebec Valley School Mems
Club held a banquet and melting at
the Elmwood hotel Friday evening at
which the speaker was DR.. Frederic
II. knight, who is at the head of the
New England Home for Little Wan
oerers in Boston and a noted psy-
biologist.
The banquet was held in the pri-
vate dining room of the Elmwood
hotel and after due justice had been
done to the excellent viyands the
party adjourned to parlors where the
meeting was held. In the absence Of
the president of the association,
Supt. Herman H. Stuart of Augusta,
the meeting was presided over by
Supt. ". H. Patten of this city. who
introduced the speaker Of the eve
ming.
DR.. knights general subject was
What Can Be Learned from the
Mental Examination Of School
Children" His talk was rather
technical in character. but SO de-
lightfully enlarged and explained
that it was intensely interesting to
those present as they were men who
deal with children from all walks Of
life. He showed how knowledge of a
child's mentality could be obtained
and illustrated his methods by telling
OF group examinations Of children Of
ity.
He said in part: In dealing with
large groups of children it is dis
covered that failure to adjust sue
cessfully TO ones environment is not
always due to low mentality. There
are what may be termed vagaries in
the mental life of children, which
are quite as frequently due to men
tai abnormality as to mental def
cheney. This suggests to us the fact
that mental examinations are not
solely for the purpose Of determin-
ing child's intelligent quotient.
1t is of course. of great importance
to be able to ascertain the ratios be-
tween what given child knows and
what he should know. but this is
only a small part of the story. When
mental examinations are accompan-
led by careful study Of the child's
physical condition and also by a
thorough knowledge of the child,s
inheritance and social conduct. thus
far the skilful mental examiner NAV
confidently expect in some cases by
single interview and in other cases
by series Of interviews to learn the
following:
L. The psychometric rating at the
time of examination. This. Of
course, implies a just estimate of the
nature and quality Of the child,s
total mental life.
:. If a given examination is not
the first one made a comparison with
previous findings would indicate tho
oifection and rate of change in the
child's mental life.
8. In such cases analysis of data
may show also in what field deveI-
opment is taking place, that in for
example. whether memory. reason
ing. control OF language of informs.
ton.
4. comparison Of rating on STAN
Iord- binet. or other similar scaIe
with results on standardixad nar-
Torrance tests. such as HeaIv com
pletion test II and Porteous m,x.s
indicates how far the child is art,cn'
late. >'eo>
5. Analysis Of reactions, especially
such as bear directly upon memorv
and reasoning makes it possible -
predict something as to the cnno.s
learning capacity when. desirable
rms can be followed UP by further
study with special tests.
o.. analysis of reactions also shows
IN many cases whether the mind IN of
the promising type that Organizes tie !
experience and utilizes it's resource.
to good effect.
=. The child's attitude durin~ tha
examination is likely to be tynicaI~
whether cordial and co-operaf,va =,
oinerenf. needless. hostile, apprehen
sive. etc. pp'enen-
.. Other things that come To ,,~h,
more or less clearly are the ouai,tv |
and stability OF attention. deers. ~
insight and persistence, and csn.s
NY and disposition for aueo-cr,tsc;sr,
AZ given at the Little W.nS