Evening star., 1924-09-24

Opponents of intelligence tests for
measuring mentality lost decisive
battle last night when the Board of
Education. in special session. at the
Franklin School. voted unanimously
to extend the application of the tests
in the District public schools as far
as finances will permit.
The critics. though fewer in number
than expected. waged j determined
flint against the classification OF chill
dren in the schools on the basis OF
their intelligent quotient, but made
little impression on the board. Ernest
Greenwood. vice president. sum
married. the two-and half hour
arguments over the tests at the close
of the meeting as follows: Nothing
has been offered in opposition to the
tests, except isolated cases"
Two hundred persons, majority of
them parents, school officers and
teachers, crowded the Franklin
Schools auditorium, anticipating a
bitter clash over the administration
of the mental tests. But the proceed
ings were strikingly devoid Of verbal
pyrotechnics, such as the board has
experienced in recent months. Capt.
julius ]. Peyser,, progressive "bloc"
leader, was absent, but sent a letter
setting forth his views on intelligence
tests.
Director Gives Views.
Miss Jessie La Sale. supervising
principal of the second division. and
director of the immature department
of education and research. opened the
meeting with a comprehensive ex-
planation of the intelligence tests as
administered last year to more than
10000 children in the District schools
and was followed by several parents
who voiced strong opposition to her
work
1t was pointed out by Miss La Sale
that the children given the tests in
the schools last year were not group
ed solely on the basis of the results
of the Intelligence tests. A number of
other factors. she said, were taken
were reclassified. I'VE have only put
children together who could best
work together" she said.
Miss La Sale made it clear that
the teachers who administered the
tests have had special training under
noted psychologists and are peculiar
ly well qualif1ed for the work. Eval-
uating of the data after the tests. she
declared, was either done by her or
under her personal direction.
Popular In Colored Schools.
Garnet c.. Wilkinson, assistant
superintendent in charge of colored
schools. told the board that the men
tai tests are "Very popular" in the
schools under his jurisdiction. and
that as a, result at least $50 colored
teachers took special courses in
child psychology SO they could carry
on the work efficiently and effectively
in divisions 10 to IS.
The strongest opposition from the
parents was injected by J. Frank
Tiller.. who has a child in the Thom-
son School. His contention was that
intelligence tests either create a
superiority complex or inferiority
complex in the minds of the chill
dren and are therefore detrimental.
Several times he provoked storm
of laughter by referring to Supt.
Frank w. Ballou as the king pin
THE idea of pleasing the king pin
has so permeated the school system,
he declared. that the teachers are
spending much more time than they
should standing in the corridors dis
cussing psychology when they should
be in the classroom teaching"
Looking directly at the board men,
bers, Mr.. Tiller declared that the in
telligence tests had hurt" his child.
IF there was anybody to sue" he
added. Il would sue you for dam
ages"
Mrs. J. "A. whitman opposed the