374  Examination  as  a  Measure  of  Ability.  \  Amj^r iSf™* 
the  material  development  which  it  necessitates.  His  charming  per- 
sonality and  his  renown  will  be  an  inspiration.  His  past  achieve- 
ments guarantee  success.  Alumni,,  faculty  and  college  officers  stand 
ready  to  give  him  their  enthusiastic  support. 
— The  Site  on  the  Parkway: — it  will  be  secured.  The  New 
Buildings : — the  plans  are  under  way.  The  Money  for  this  preten- 
tious development  in  all  its  branches : — it  will  be  forthcoming  when 
needed.  The  Leader  who  can  guide  us  to  wider  fields  of  service : — 
he  has  been  found. 
The  vision  of  a  greater  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  and 
Science,  a  fitting  memorial  to  the  founders  and  to  all  who  partici- 
pated in  the  upbuilding  of  the  College  in  the  years  past,  will  soon 
become  an  actuality.  J.  W.  S. 
EXAMINATION  AS  A  MEASURE  OF  ABILITY. 
No  experienced  teacher  ever  expects  an  examination  or  even  a 
series  of  examinations,  to  yield  mathematically  accurate  results  in 
measuring  the  ability  of  a  student.  The  values  obtained  are  only 
relative  and  must  be  considered  in  connection  with  other  factors  in 
passing  final  judgment  upon  any  applicant  who  is  subjected  to  such  a 
test. 
An  examination  is  sometimes  a  measure  of  capacity  or  of  re- 
tentiveness  or  of  concentration,  if  it  follows  close  after  the  presenta- 
tion of  a  subject,  but  it  can  never  be  considered  as  an  infallible  in- 
dex of  mental  qualifications. 
If  this  be  true  of  specific  examinations  covering  a  single  sub- 
ject or  a  limited  range,  how  much  less  value  can  be  placed  upon 
examinations  which  are  known  as  "general  information  tests."  And 
yet  there  is  an  element  of  value  here  which  must  not  be  overlooked. 
Much  comment  has  resulted  the  making  public  of  a  list  of  ques- 
tions which  it  is  said,  has  been  used  by  Thomas  A.  Edison  in  passing 
upon  applicants  for  positions  in  his  employ.  Many  prominent  edu- 
cators and  professional  men  have  seen  fit  to  criticize  Mr.  Edison 
and  deride  his  plan  as  of  no  value  for  the  purpose. 
How  do  these  individuals  know  Mr.  Edison's  purpose?  He  has 
not  revealed  it.  His  published  comment  which  brought  the  storm 
about  him  was  to  effect  that  "college  graduates  are  amazingly  ignor- 
