366 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



1. Adequate vital statistics. These should include an authentic 

 record of data touching (a) birth and parentage; (&) physical charac- 

 teristics, health, development; (c) temperamental peculiarities; (d) 

 mental traits, or predispositions; (e) moral characteristics. Critical 

 data covering these matters should be made obligatory upon parents or 

 guardian. Such data would be of inestimable value to the teacher at 

 every step in the course of instruction and should cover the period from 

 birth to school age. 



2. A school census. From the time of school entrance and through 

 the entire course of the grades there should be a permanent record of 

 (a) rate and character of progress; (&) mental aptitudes or peculiari- 

 ties; (c) temperamental or moral traits. During this time there would 

 be ample opportunity for application of the Binet tests of mental ca- 

 pacity. Such a record would afford a real insight into the mental 

 pedigi'ee, which, compared with that of the nursery period, should afford 

 some insight into hereditary antecedents. 



3. A high school census. Upon entry into the high school its staff 

 would have at command a body of fairly trustworthy data as to the 

 general character and capacity of every pupil. It would thus become 

 practicable from the first to advise intelligently each one as to the type 

 and character of course to be pursued, i. e., whether academic or voca- 

 tional, literary or scientific, or whether discouraged concerning either. 

 At any rate, both principal and teacher would be advised in advance as 

 to prospects and probabilities, and thus forearmed to meet the issues. 

 Thus qualified we should be saved from an expedient recently invoked 

 of lowering the passing grade of the high school in order to encour- 

 age ( ?) dull pupils against truancy or abandoning the course, and 

 then defending the method by the assertion tliat the apparent lowering 

 of tlie standard was only such in form, that examinations would be 

 made correspondingly more difficult ! Such a subterfuge calls for no 

 special comment! As in the grades, so in the high school, a similar 

 record should be as rigidly kept, adding such data as the advanced age 

 of the pupil might naturally afford, e. g., as to prospective vocation, 

 peculiarities, moral traits, etc. 



4. A college census. Already there is much available data touching 

 various aspects of actual progress and subsequent history. Much more 

 is needed along these lines. There lias been far too much boasting con- 

 cerning subsequent capacity of college-bred people. This has lent itself 

 effectively to the college agent or president in his endless appeal for 

 resources, for stuclcnts, etc. Let there be developed a thoroughly reliable 

 body of facts touching every aspect of college or university pretension. 

 Let it include data no loss critical concerning social, athletic, fraternity 

 affairs, and followed later by equally critical details as to subsequent 

 professional distinction. 



The scholastic jKMligrcc furnisltod hy tlio applicant for admission to 



