ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FACTORS INVOLVED IN EDUCATION. 211 



6. Always tried. See earlier remarks. A very useful test, as all 

 not defective at seven to eight 'can pass this. Those that cannot, 

 usually ineducable. 



7. Very useful; always directly or indirectly tried, usually the 

 latter. In a definite test on about 400 children in special schools about 

 five per cent, failed to point to their mouths. These were recent 

 admissions in the lower classes. 



8. Tried so far as (a). See previous note. 



9. This does not seem to give the line between idiocy and imbecility 

 at any age ; 6 is nearer my experience. The question involves a good 

 deal, and the response is by no means always obtained in the lower 

 classes of normal infants' schools. See also the 1908 series. 



10. Tried. I agree in the main with the text. I have never used 

 lines of known length. 



11. Tried. General agreement as to result. Have never laid stress 

 on it. In asking this and similar questions, or others, echolalia may be 

 noted. 



12. 13. Not tried in a reasonably comparable manner. Discrimi- 

 nation of weights is taught in some special schools. 



14. See note on ' What is a cat? ' 



15. Tried. No defective child at an admission examination could 

 do such long sentences, except perhaps (1). I have not used the 

 examples quoted. Yet the child may know a verse of a popular comio 

 song. 



16. Tried. Usually looked on as a catch, and so is apt to spoil 

 the examination. Many stick to 'don't know.' I am not sure a 

 response, unless quite to the point, is a good sign. 



17-25. Not tried. 



26. Tried with older children. More often by listening to the 

 spelling lessons actually in progress. Serve the purpose, but more 

 convenient methods. 



27. In some form often tried, especially at later examinations. 

 Questions must not be abstract or the mentally deficient fails. 



28. Quite satisfied if a mentally deficient child at later stages can 

 tell the time at all. If a child passed this at admission, should hesitate 

 over saying mentally deficient save for special defect; e.g., word- 

 blindness. 



29. 30. Not tried. 



1908 Series." 



Three-year-olds. 



1. A little hard for many threes, or even fours, until some time at 

 school. French family life must involve far more talking intelligently 

 to the child — i.e., true education — than obtains in many poor English 

 homes. On this base a general disagreement with Binet's standards 

 as too high in the main ; with some exceptions equally too low. 



2. Varies. Few will do so long a sentence until some time at 

 school; then they pick up quickly. There are few opportunities of 

 testing cbildien under five in school. 



* The comments on defective children refer to those'of seven and upwards to 

 fifteen. 



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