446 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



individuals. It is this ability which enters into real 

 leadership as contrasted with mere management. The 

 successful leader makes his personal adjustments read- 

 ily and shows capacity for fair but effective dealing 

 with his associates. While this ability is desirable for 

 all workers, it becomes fundamental for foremen, manag- 

 ers and others who have to do with groups of workers. 

 It is just as fundamental for successful practice in any 

 position which requires contact with the public such as 

 is necessary in secretarial or sales work. 



If we accept the general thesis that learning capacity 

 along the lines indicated is an important factor in em- 

 ployment adjustment, are we not justified in assuming 

 that information concerning such capacity would be val- 

 uable at the point of employment or even more valuable 

 at the point of special vocational training? If valuable 

 in this connection, how may such information be secured? 

 There are at least two major approaches which promise 

 helpful returns, school ratings and psychological tests. 



There are opportunities for rating in connection with 

 the regular school activities which have in the past been 

 utilized only in part. Is it too much to expect that every 

 young man or young woman who comes to employment 

 after the completion of our public elementary, second- 

 ary, or college courses will bring as a by-product some- 

 thing approaching a complete appraisal of learning ca- 

 pacities and learning habits'? Is it not also desirable 

 that school contact through curricular and through ex- 

 tra-curricular activities result in corresponding ap- 

 praisal of personal qualities which are of importance in 

 employment 1 ? The following records which have been 

 supplied from the files of the University High School 

 indicate the kind of information to which I refer : 



A. A problem case — 



"Has difficulty in working for any period of time with- 

 out direction. Cannot organize his work and finds 

 trouble working through a problem when once it has 

 been analyzed and organized in cooperation with the 

 instructor. 



