106 THE RIGHT TO BE WELL BORN 



Out of eaeli hundred, if we take Super- 

 intendent Maxwell's statements, there 

 would be only 38.70 left on the average at 

 the end of the eighth grade, or, according to 

 the record of the New York Schools, 61.30% 

 are subnormal when the eight years are in- 

 cluded — that is, at the end of eight years, 

 or, when the average child is, say, 14 years 

 old. I am aware that, in my supposition to 

 show the percentage that would fail each 

 year, it is not quite fair. Some who fail in 

 a low grade will be sure to fail in a higher 

 one, and so be counted twice in my scheme. 

 The actual figures are not easy to secure. 



During the school year, ending June 30, 

 1915, there was a total promotion from 

 the 8th grade to the 9th of 45,730. Of 

 these, 22,052 were promoted at the end of 

 the first term and 23,678 at the end of the 

 year, June 30, 1915. That is to say, 45,730 

 children completed in 1915 the eight grades 

 of the grammar school. 



Contrast this number with the enroll- 

 ment of the first grade for the same year. 

 In the A. Division of the first grade, dur- 

 ing the year, were a total of 117,516, or 



