THE METHOD OF AGE GRADATION 55 



there exist typical differences of intelligence be- 

 tween groups of children of the same age, and what 

 magnitude these differences attain at different ages. 

 In Prussia, pupils may enter the Sexta (lowest class) 

 of the Gymnasium after three years in the Vorschule, 

 but only after four years in the Volksscliule. The 

 tests were also aimed to discover to what extent this 

 rule is psychologically justified, not only by the dif- 

 ferences in the curricula of the two schools, but also 

 by the general mental maturity of the children. 



Five groups were tested that had been carefully 

 planned to be comparable, in the matter of age, viz. : 

 7 and 9 year old pupils of the Vorschule, and 7, 9 and 

 10 year old pupils in the Volksschule in all about 

 150 boys. (See above, pp. 35 f., for some of the pre- 

 cautionary rules observed in testing) . The results are 

 now being worked out ; but, thanks to the courtesy 

 of the investigators, I have been able to get some of 



from G to 14, unless the child is otherwise instructed. The Gym- 

 nasium is one of a number of so-called 'higher' or 'secondary' 

 schools with a 9-year curriculum (ages 9 to 18, or more), and 

 preparatory for entrance into the university. Children of the bet- 

 ter classes, destined for higher education, enter the Gymnasium 

 (or some variant of it) after a preliminary three-year training 

 (ages 6 to 9) in a Vorschule, which is thus virtually a special ele- 

 mentary school for better-class children. Relatively infrequently 

 do children started in the Volksschule later enter the Gymnasium. 



A demand is now being made by certain interests in Germany 

 for the abolishment of these distinctions, at least in part, by com- 

 pelling all children to begin school instruction in the same school 

 (Einheitsschule) a proposal which has been, and is, the occasion 

 of very active, and even bitter discussion. 



I have given a somewhat fuller explanation of the German 

 school system in Appendix II of my translation of Offner's Mental 

 Fatigue, an earlier number of this series of Educational Psy- 

 chology Monographs. Transla tor. 



