New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-05
College, Taught Youths Funk
Inqllisiti0n on Current Eue1lts
Many Unable to Identify Hughes, Lloyd George and
Other World Leaders, Public Service Institute Re-
ports; Freshmen Beaten by High School Seniors

Don't crD, college boy don't cru
When tho jnnd of your knowledge thcv
spurn,
Though they sag that in school
You appear fool
DO not sob nor vet sigh,
Bat just drp your dear cue,
For thers's barrels Of time net to learn,
College boy,
There's barrels Of time net to learn.
Pity the poor college man.
First it was Thomas A. Edison who
stepped forth and said that the
alumnus didn't know much at least
not so much as he should as the re-
suit of his higher education, and
backed up that assertion by producing
a series Of questionnaires which were
1unked by many university graduates
who sought employment in the Edison
enterprises.
Now comes the Institute for Public
Service, in report issued yesterday,
and presents the results of test re-
vealing to the world the college mans
Ignorance or misunderstanding with
respect to current problems'
Ancient Data Ignored
Unlike the Edison inquisitions, the
institutes questions were based wholly
upon current events, chiefly the identi-
flying of persons of prominence in ma
tional and international life and in
calling for definitions and particulars
of movements, places and problems of
the day.
Also differing from the Edison
"exams" the test included grammar
grade and high school students along
with the university men. While the
latter, as whole, came out with first
honors, the report shows that college
juniors and seniors averaged only so
per cent in correct answers and that
400 freshmen graded only So per cent.
This latter was the mark recorded by
5000 students in high school gradual
ing classes.
However, 1900 high school students
in the second term of the junior year
beat the freshman mark, averaging
55 per cent. High school freshmen,
numbering 1900, scored only IS per
cent. This mark was beaten by 1880
grammar school seniors, with az per
cent average. Seventh grade pupils,
group of 1900 earned 30 per cent.
The total number of students taking
the test was 100000 but the results
students who averaged al per cent.
Of the 1880 examined, 10000 were
high school students and the remainder
university men. The test was con-
Quoted in both public and private
schools and colleges throughout the
country. The questions were prepared
by the American Review Of Reviews.
"The questions were not catches de-
handing freak memories" said Julius
II. Barnes, chairman Of the institute,
yesterday. Gail were simple and easy,
calling for knowledge and understand
ing of frequently mentioned men,
places and issues affecting our life, like
Uncle SAM, Budget Director Dawes,
Samuel Gompers, Lloyd George, the
budget, collective bargaining, peonage,
Sovietism, the sales tax and Sim Fem.
"The returns are not from our coun-
try's least favored young people or
from mental detectives. On the con
trary, they are from the most favored
young men and women in high schools
and colleges, for whose education labor
and capital alike are being taxed from
$50 to $500 year a student, besides
the cost of their support and the worth
of their time while studying"