New Ulm review., 1921-01-05
MENTAL TEST
FOR SCHOLARS !; c /! |. L.
PsYCHoLoGICAL SPECIALIST
TO DETERMINE STAGE OF
INTELLIGENCE.

sf ,}s3 s4j154 tsss~N ~
SPECIAL CLASS PLANNED FOR
BACKWARD CHILDREN OF
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
] One OF the most important matters
discussed by the board Of education
at its regular monthly meeting, Mon
day evening, so far as the general
welfare Of the local public schools are
concerned, was a tabulated report
/ by Superintendent Arnold Gloor deal
ling with the various grades of In
telligence Of pupils in the grades.
Every Class Below Standard.
The report is based upon the result
OF an oral reading test made in the
local public schools by the superin-
tendent during the months Of Oc-
tober and November and shows that
every class is below the standard
fixed by leading school authorities.
/ This sub-nornal condition ranges
| from 80 to 32.2 per cent, according
to tests made Of pupils in the second,
third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh
and eighth grades, being highest in
the primary classes and decreasing
{ in the higher grades.
i Special Class Planned.
i Superintendent Gloor suggested the
i organization of special class for
mentally retarded pupils, of which
there are from 13 to Is in the
grades. Similar classes to the total
| number OF 86 are being conducted
in other communities throughout
Minnesota and the state appro-
pirates special aid in the sum of S1O0
per year for each pupil in these
grades, but limits the enrolment to
Is, making total appropriation not
to exceed $1,000. There is a vacant
| room in the Lincoln. building which
!. could be utilized for the instruction
81 backward ciinldre if fae spes5aAss
class is started here, and the state
aid would be sufficient to pay the
Especial teacher that would have to
) fbe engaged.
Benefit Sould Be General.
The superintendent pointed out
that the organization Of such class
here would greatly benefit not only
the mentally retarded pupils, but
s Indirectly, all of the other scholars
I as well, as it would permit Of a more
t rapid progress in the regular classes,
! which is now considerably handi-
! capped. The special class would
give the children enrolled therein an
unusual opportunity to develop their
mentality, as special instruction look
ing toward this result would be given
!. and the instructor would be able to
II devote personal attention to each
J; pupil, the class being composed Of
4 not more than Is scholars, none Of
!, them more than Is years of age.
May Secure Specialist.
The board voted to have Superin-
tendent Gloor communicate with
DR.. r. Kuhlmann of Faribault, who
is nationally recognized authority
in the matter Of determining the
mental status of children as well, as
adults. He has devoted a great deal
of study to this matter and an effort
will be made to have him come to
! New Ulm and apply his tests. Dr..
J Kuhlmann is engaged by the state
for this purpose and the only ex-
pense that would deyolve upon the
school district are his railroad fare
and hotel bill,
An Interesting Table.
The superintendent also submitted
8 to the board a very interesting table
showing the ages of the pupils in the
various grades and high school
classes, placed in three subdivisions,
including accelerated pupils, normal
pupils and retarded pupils. The
s accelerated subdivision contains those
!, pupils who are advanced at school
'l beyond their years, while the re-
tarded subdivision is made up of
scholars who are backward, and the
normal subdivision includes those
4 children whose ages correspond with
the standard ages fixed for their
], classes or grades ~
OF the total enrolment Of 5761 in
all of the local public schools, upon
= which the report is based, 80. are
I IN the first grade; "a in the second;
). I64 in the third; so in the fourth;
!. (coatipued on page 81
! Wells Of Minneapolis, who with her
g daughter, Lauretta, survives him.
AL He also .laauns his narnnta AZ. a,,I