Evening star., 1935-09-15

Of the kind ever undertaken was the
testing Of the Army during the World
War. This was during the infancy
Of intelligence measurements. There
was the inevitable confusion and lack
of standard procedure associated with
war time. Some rather direful con-
clusions were drawn, placing the av-
erage. intelligence of the American
people quite low. A good deal de-
pends on the mentality of this quag-
mired generation, but nobody has
any very adequate idea Of what 1t Is.
There is also projected study OF
the social interests and attitudes Of
a representative sampling Of the
young men now enrolled in the c. c. c.
camps. One Of the most fundamental
investigations under consideration is
that Of the relation, In a representa-
tive group Of adolescent boys and
girls, of intelligence to actual school
progress. Still another proposal Is for
a far-reaching psychological study Of
the genesis and development Of IN
tellectual interests.
There also Is proposed a historical
study of the ways in which important
changes in American civilization from
the agrarian period to the present
have modified the opportunities Of
youth. One of the most significant
Of the proposed investigations is an
analysis of the characteristics of men
and women which make for successful
living and Of the extent to which
high schools help to develop these
characteristics. A half dozen other
projected studies are on the program
in this field of determination Of the
nature Of the material of the genera
ton.
The second major heading deals
with the development Of goals. nclud-
ing such projects as an extended an
slysis Of the activities of representa-
tive good citizens" and an evaluation
Of the innovations in the care and
education Of youth developed in GER
tain European nations. Especial at
tention will be given to the services Of
the schools in encouraging and max
ing possible the goals" found to be
most desirable.
Schools Under Microscope.
Another major heading of the pro-
jected research deals with the schools
and other child-training agencies
themselves. There is proposed large
scale investigation of the various plans
Of vocational education now in COM
mon use, as a means Of gauging the
effectiveness of each plan in the de-
velopmens Of specific vocational skills
and general vocation ability.
There will be a study Of what kind
OF teachers makes the most profound
and lasting impressions on their pu-
pills.
Another study will seek to deter
mine how far the schools contribute
to the equipment Of pupils for the
actual duties of life in the line Of
emotional control, general conduct,
respect for others, self-confidence,
power Of concentration and the like.
Where is American education taking
its charges-to successful living or
deeper into the quagmire?
1t is expected that this gigantic re-
search program will require at least
five years and lay broad foundation
for the future procedure of the Amer
can educational machine. There is no
question, it is pointed out. that extern
Sive revisions are necessary. The
schools must take account Of such fac
tors as the increasing leisure, the
growing specialization and mechahiza-
ton Of vocational opportunities, the
growing interdependence Of commune
ties because Of better communication
and transportation, the growing i'm
portance Of such devices as the radio
and motion picture in setting group
and individual interests and attitudes,
the declining influence Of the home
and church, especially in urban CEN
ters, and the current shifting of moral
and ethical standards, with apparent
increases In crime and other anti
social practices.
Attendance Ratio Low.
In many directions, it Is pointed
out, the situation Is critical. One
out of every three in the high school
age group Is not in school. There
are nearly 100000 young people in
farming areas for whom there seems
to be very slight opportunity. Nor
mally they would migrate to the cities.
The cities don't want them and have
no place for them. There is less
and less work on the farms. Almost
so per cent Of the thousands Of
vagrants moving aimlessly from city
to city are youths under IS. The
largest number Of arrests are of boys
under 10. There are no social agencies
equipped to provide adequate super
vision and protection of these young
people. There exists at present neither
q consistent plan for dealing with
these problems which the depression
has brought to the fore nor an
agency equipped 10 devoleD such .