PHYSICAL DEFECTS AND SCHOOL PROGRESS 



Here the figures show that the percentage of defectives is 

 much higher among the non-exempt than among the exempt 

 children. We are given no details, however, as to defects found 

 and so no data indicating which particular sort or sorts of defects 

 caused the preponderance on the side of the non-exempt pupils. 

 Some light, however, seems to be thrown on this problem by the 

 results of an investigation conducted in 1908 by Dr. S. W. New- 

 mayer in the schools of Philadelphia* and covering the examina- 

 tions of 5,005 children, of whom 3,587 were exempt and 1,418 non- 

 exempt. Defects were found among them as follows : 



TABLE 36. PHYSICAL DEFECTS AMONG 3,587 EXEMPT AND 1,418 

 NON-EXEMPT CHILDREN, IN PHILADELPHIA, PENN., 1908 



With two exceptions the defects are distributed between 

 the two classes of children with surprising equality. 



The brighter pupils seem to be afflicted in about the same 



degree as their duller companions. The two exceptions occur in 



the cases of "mental defects" and "skin diseases/' both of which 



are more frequent among the duller children. That the former 



should be more common is to be expected. That the non-exempt 



children should be found to suffer more commonly from skin 



diseases is probably a reflection of poorer home conditions rather 



than a cause of their lower school standings. 



* Report not in print. 



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