August 16, 1901.] 



SCIENCE. 



249 



underlying it upon which there is a most This study does not present a panacea 



perfect consensus of opinion. One of them for these difficulties. It is not remedial, 



is the universal variability already alluded but rather in the nature of a further diag- 



to. In every grade known to modern nosis of the conditions. It asks the ques- 



school systems are found some pupils who tion : What physical and mental conditions 



seem to fit the conditions almost perfectly in the child most often accompany success 



and others who are palpable misfits. They and failure in grade work ? It also at- 



are not only misfits where they are, but tempts to answer the question for the 



have always been so wherever they have limited field covered. 



been, and will probably remain misfits to The method and scope of the problem 



the end of the school chapter. This is not are as follows : About 2,000 copies of the 



to characterize them as useless members of blank here printed were sent out to the 



society, nor as vicious, but simply as odd- superintendents of schools in eight cities 



shaped cogs which do not quite fit the edu- and towns of the State of Colorado, who 



cational mechanism. Clumsy machinery had, in response to a letter previously sent 



might work fairly well with them, but not oat, signified their willingness to help with 



the carefully adjusted tools of a big public- the problem. Colorado towns were not 



school plant, and some modifications must chosen because of any special geographical 



be made for them. Nor are these failures value, but for the simple reason that I was 



to coincide all in the same degree. Some a resident of the State and acquainted with 



go through the whole mill with only a its educators. In fact, the geographical 



moderate amount of friction. Others find restriction perhaps limits the value of the 



City 



Grade — '■ — Sex Age 



1. Height (for grade"), Tall ; Above medium ; Below medium ; Short 



2. Weight (for grade), Heavy ; " " ; " " ; Light 



3. Health (apparent), Perfect ; " " ; " " ; Poor 



4. Native Ability— Bright ; " " ; " " ; Dull 



5. Habit— Industrious ; " " ; " " ; Lazy 



6. Temperament— Nervous ; " " ; " " ; Stolid 



7. HomeCouditions— Good ; " " ; " " ; Bad 



8. Occupation of father 



STANDING IN CLASS. 

 {Based iqwn marks actually given.) 



9. Grading : 1st |- class ; 2d |- class ; 3d J class ; 4th -]- class 



10. Deportment : ditto ; ditto ; ditto ; ditto 



Eemarks ^ 



the wheels revolving too rapidly or too study, rather than enhances it. With the 



slowly. For the former, some parts must blanks were sent out full directions for 



be gone through twice, for the latter, time filling them out. (1) That they be given 



is wasted. The greatest good for the only to such teachers as the superintendent 



greatest number is all that can be hoped for felt would do the work with care and good 



and in its accomplishments some few may judgment. (2) That the teachers to whom 



long have to suffer for the weal of the they were intrusted fill out one blank for 



many. each pupil in the grade, putting an X in 



