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A very promising direction in which intelligence tests may render 

 invaluable assistance is to be found in vocational guidance. In view of 

 the enormous — and ever increasing — expenditure on education, it is 

 remarkable that until recently so little attention has been given to the 

 successful marketing of the produce of our schools. The ' after-care ' 

 agencies — frequently voluntary organ sations — have done excellent service 

 in various districts in looking after the interests of children seeking employ- 

 ment on leaving school. Their activities have, however, been largely of 

 a social order, involving securing information as to the reputation of firms 

 employing children and the conditions of labour, the possibilities of 

 advancement and so on. The members of such welfare committees often 

 keep in touch with the employees and advise the children when difficulties 

 occur in connection with their employment, which by friendly co-operation 

 can be adjusted. 



The frequent changes of employment, which have such a demoralising 

 effect on children, may be diminished to a marked degree in districts 

 which are fortunate in possessing a really efficient after-care committee. 

 The judgment of the school as to the type of employment for which a 

 particular child is suited is also of considerable value. Without under- 

 estimating in any way the importance of the beneficent effect resulting 

 from the various after-care agencies on the future welfare of the children, 

 it is evident that if by intelligence, and specially devised vocational, tests 

 a clear statement could be made, on a scientific basis, as to the kind of 

 occupation, or group of occupations, in which a child, on leaving school, 

 may find the fullest expression for any native ability which he is found 

 to possess, it would be of the greatest possible service. 



The much-to-be-desired solution of this very difficult problem, which 

 may play an important part in the future happiness of the child, appears 

 to be on the high-road to realisation. In 1926 a report was published of 

 ' A Study in Vocational Guidance by the Industrial Fatigue Research 

 Board and the National Institute of Industrial Psychology,' which marks 

 an epoch-making advance in the interests of child welfare. The investiga- 

 tion was conducted under the direction of Professor Cyril Burt. 



The subjects of the experiment were all the children in a certain 

 London borough (fifty-two boys and forty-eight girls), who were due to 

 leave school within the next year. Their ages lay between thirteen and 

 fourteen. The investigation included Intellectual Capacity (general 

 intelligence, specific capacities, educational attainments and special 

 interests) and Temperament and Character (emotional, moral and social 

 qualities). Physical condition and home conditions were also taken into 

 consideration. The children were tested individually for intelligence, 

 using a modification of the Stanford Revision of the Binet-Simon Scale. 



As a result of the experiment, the type of employment considered most 

 suitable for each child was suggested. In some cases the advice of the 

 investigators was followed, in others not. For a period of two years the 

 after-careers of the children were carefully observed from time to time 

 in order to discover the success or otherwise of the children in their 

 employment. The following statement was made at the conclusion of 

 the experiment : — 



' The outcome of the inquiry speaks strongly in favour of the methods 

 1929 Q 



