TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 



The article here translated appeared in the "Bulletin de 

 la Societe libre pour I'Etude Psychologique de I'Enfant," 

 April, 1911. It is a brief but complete statement of the Binet- 

 Simon method of examining the intelligence and determining 

 the mental level of children. 



The aim of the authors was to present their system of 

 tests as finally revised with adequate explanation and instruc- 

 tion for its use, but without the theoretical and philosophical 

 discussion accompanying its presentation in "L'Annee Psy- 

 chologique." It is in fact a convenient manual for those who 

 wish to use the method. 



The translator is of the opinion that just such a manual 

 is needed in the United States at the present time. So much 

 has appeared in our educational press concerning the Binet- 

 Simon System and the practical value of its application to 

 the problems of special education that a widespread interest 

 has been awakened; indeed the system has become popular. 

 Unfortunately, this popularity is not paralleled by accurate 

 knowledge concerning it. The surface simplicity of the method 

 has encouraged many to attempt its application with little 

 more knowledge concerning it than that supplied by the list 

 of tests. This is undoubtedly largely owing to the fact that 

 none of the Binet-Simon articles on the subject have been 

 translated in full ; extracts have appeared and many criticisms, 

 but the articles themselves have never appeared in English 

 form. To put into the hands of our educational public the 

 Binet-Simon System in the form and with the instructions and 

 explanations presented by its authors, this translation has 

 been prepared. 



The series of tests presented in the 1911 article is the 

 result of a gradual development. The first form of the Scale 

 was published in "L'Annee Psychologique" in 1905; this itself 



35G393 



