Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-11

and the students own estimate Of himself his
record is made up and kept.
Inventory OF Character.
These cards cover the Students natural apt-
tude and mental characteristics; his application;
his general attitude, whether self-reiant,
opinionated, quarrelsome, aggressive, concina-
tory. timid or self-controIed; cooperative
ability. courtesy; disposition, whether gloomy
or good-natured; eficientcy; habits of work,
and the like; his judgment; qualities of leader
ship; mental caliber; general outlook on hfe'
sense OF responsibility; tact.
ON the same cards, under the heading OF
Moral and Social characteristics" the two
teachers and five students record whether the
student being described has an ingratiatng
address. or whether it is cautious, direct and
brusaue, or irritating, and whether he leaves a
good or poor Impressions; whether his character
is Welding, weak, firm, strong, obstinate, or
positively moral; whether he Is conscientious.
tricky, honorable, reliable. or unreiiaple;
whether his manner is trustful. guarded, sus-
picious, Jealous, or envious; ana wnetner the
student is popular or not
The physical characteristics are also recorded.
This covers the countenance, whether pieasant,
habit or dress, whether snowy, stylish, tastelui,
ill-chosen, neat, or careless; whether he has any
deformity; his carriage, whether erect and dlgni-
fed or round shouldered and slouchy; and MS
general health. covering his vision, nearing.
endurance, vitality. physique and nervous STA
bility. -
In addition, this concensus of observation OF
the student covers his use OF English In speak
ing and writing, and whether his
is tAtAb
less.
From the data collected, Dean Potter is able
10 advise the student as to his future -courSe,
encouraging him If he is on the right road, or
telling him if his path is badly chosen. Il a
student is without any faculty OF ieadersn,p
or inventive ideas, who is prone to accept every
thing Just as he finds 1t without any suggeston
Of Improvement. no is believed to have chosen
the wrong profession as his lifework. Ensineer-
ing in practically every branch demands con-
slant inventive ability. vision and constructive
thinking of the highest order to bring real
-. D4a Dnffae 0nnQ on tho 1neOfV IHal
the time to discuss the error In choice OF pro-
fession is before the boy or young man is
allowed to waste much OF his tune at an M
students who just wish to be this or that with
out having supplemented this desire with any
thing like an analysis of their own cnaractsfrS-
tics or natural ability for the work they think
Follow the Natural Bent.
The studen: who is found to be naturally
gifted and fitted for the profession OF engiheer-
ing requires only the usual course ana may
be depended upon to MAKE so not So well de-
fined, Dean Potter holds that it is the high duty
Of these young men and their instructors ~
put the student in the right way TO achleVe tne
Utmost possible, and to advise him TO STUDY. u
fit himself for that position In IRE ior whica
he is best fitted by temperament. training and
IN selline of his tests, Dean Potter says that
the boy who reaches eighteen years wlthout
nake a designing engineer. on the other hand,
the boy who is never satisfied wish ms toys az
they come to him, who seeks TO cnange any
improve them, as well as everything else that
comes to hand, has in him one OF the main
essentials for the profession.
Dean Potter makes the broad cam ina that
the student will not have to be urged and driven
to them. Also, he warmly urges not to axe
the printed page for granted, "for very ordinary
neople write books" but to test what is read
by the use of ordinary common sense and learn
to skip judiciously."
Another Potter principle which he applies Is
that to make a success of making men one mas
to keep right with them and keep the interest,"
young and vigorous. he mas many yri Rta, Short
accounts of any notable thing the student does
in his college work, and send 1t TO the ooy
home paper. The publication of this serves the
purpose of letting the student know that ms
folks back home know how well ne Is aoihs,
his parents and friends are naturally pieasea
and responsive, ana a general ASSET v eooN
AS the student progresses in his work he
learns that there are other influences w naen
potter is in constant touch with leading menu
bers of his profession and large employers o.
at Purdue any valuable innovation he mas IN
the practice of engineering. He Is forever look-
ing for openings for his graduates Tor WhiSn
they are peculiarly fitted. AS he puts u, ne
sells the crop every year.fand is keenly ~,
terested in seeing to it that the crop is high
grade and placed to- to the the F RssI a Men.
Many large corporations send each year al
graduation time to add to their technical FORCES
from a source In Whlcn tney nave tHo g."
faith. Despite the general slackening OF In
dustry, there was a good demand for Dean
Potter's graduates who closed their course sue
cessfully last month. ~
They labor long and hard with the boy AT
Purdue who is looking for college life, but does
not want his studies to interfere too much.
They believe this attitude is the result OF a
method that made the boy learn a book instead
# connecting his interest in a study. Dean
Potter holds strongly to the belief that the real
pleasure in the world is in intelligent interest
ing work. and he has to his record many IN
stances Of success in turning students to ms
view, from which they have NOT subsequently
departed. The Dean believes IN academic Tree
dom snorts ard pastimes, hobbies and interests,
but his face is firm set against academic license
and confirmed laziness.