The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-11

man has arisen in the middle west
with a new idea concerning the
teaching of the exact science of en-
cheering who is attracting the at
tontion of educators all over the
United States and in centers OF
learning abroad. He has no epoch
making method of supply brains to
dull students or filling their minds
with knowledge that will stick re-
CARELESS of the students capacity,
but he has worked out system
whereby his scho~l is turning out
better graduate engineers.
This man is A A. Potter, Dean
of Engineering at Purdue Univer-
sity, Lafayette, Ind. That the ben
eft of his system is appreciated by
young men DESTROYS of becoming en-
gineers is shown by the enrolment
in the Engineering school at Pur-
due. In the college year just clos
ed there were 1916 students, rank
ing the school third among institu-
lions of its kind in the United
States in point of numbers.
Summed up, what Dean Potter is
seeking and getting is to make
competent professional men - not
just graduates; to keep the stu
dents interest at high pitch; to see
that his time is spent where he can
best excel.
When a student takes up the en-
glneerlng course at Purdue it is
soon ascertained whether he k-oWs
how to study and m-morize eff
fecttVely. If he does not, it is the
first thing he is taught. He is
taught that he is not to learn any
book, but to master information
which that book contains. He is
urged to visualize what is set forth,
to pick out the essentials OF a study
and concentrate on the min order
that they will be clear and prac-
teal to him always.
After he has been at work for two
or three months in his first year the
engineering student has his charac-
ter inVentOried by five of his fellow
students and two OF his teachers.
This record is kept up through his
course and affords an excellent es-
innate of any student almost at q
glance. From these seven reports
and the students own estimate of
himself his record is made up and
kept.
Inventory of Character.
These cards cover the students
natural aptitude and mental char
acteristics; his application; his
general attitude, whether self-reli-
ant, upiniated, Quarelsome, agrees
siYe, conciIiatoTy, tImid or self
controlled; cooperative ability,
courtesy; disposition, whether
gloomy or good-natured; efficiency;
habits of work, if punctual, re-
sourceful, rapid or slow, and the
like; his judgment; qualities of
leadership; mental caIiber: gen
eral outlook on lie; sense of re-
sponslbility; tact.
On the same cards, under the
heading OF Moral and Social Char
acteristics," the two teachers and
five students record whether the
student being described has an in
gratlatlng address, or whether it is
cautious, direct and brusque, or ir-
ritating, and whether he leaves a
good or poor impression; whether
his character is yielding, weak,
firm, strong, obstinate, or positively
moral; whether he is conscientious,
tricky, honorable, reliable, or IN
reliable; whether his manner is
trustful, guarded, suspicious, jeal-
Gus, or envlOus, and whether the
student is popular or not.
The physical characteristic are
also recorded. This covers the
coutenance, whether pleasant, seri-
Gus, open, strong. secretive, or
weak; mis- habit OF dress, whether
snowy, stylish, tasteful, iIlchosen,
neat, or careless; whether he has
any deformity; his carriage, Wheth-
er erect and dignitied or round
shouidered and slouchy; and his
general health, covering his vision,
hearing, endurance, vital ity,
physique and nervous stability.
In addition, this consensus of OBJ
servauOu Ct the student COY eIS his
use OF English in speaking and
writing and whether his haudE nit
ing is firm, business-Iike, IegIbIe, IL
Igglble or careless.
From the data collected, Dean
Potter IS able to advise the student
Is 10 his future course, encourage
him if he IS on the right road. or
telling him If his path is badly
chosen. II a student is without any
faculty OF leadership or inventive
ideas, who is prone to accept every
thing just as he finds it without any
suggestion OF improvement he is