RETARDATION AND ELIMINATION IN GRADED AND RURAL SCHOOLS. By G. W.
Gayler,
Superintendent of Schools, Princeton,
Illinois.
During the winter of 1909 the material upon which this study of retardation and elimination is based was secured from the eleven graded systems given in the table below, and from 139 rural schools of Bureau County, Illinois. Blank forms, asking for a tabulation of the age and grade of all school children enrolled in the different systems, were sent to the superintendents and principals, with the request that these be properly filled out and The data from the Freeport schools returned at an early date. were taken from the annual statement of the superintendent of those schools.
These
same
rural schools of Bureau
blanks
were
sent to the teachers of the
County by County Superintendent
Claude submitted to the writer of this study, after which the whole subject was presented by him to the Illinois Yalley Superintendents' and and Principals' Round Table for consideration and discussion.
Brown.
All these reports article for tabulation and
legal
were
In the schools from which this material was collected the age of entrance is six years. Reports from the superinten-
charge show that but few children are kept out of school they are seven years old. More often parents are anxious
dents in until
have their children in school before six years of age, and sometimes considerable pressure is brought to bear to secure admission for children who have not yet reached the legal age. The data given in this paper are all based upon the ages of to
children taken at the 1908. All ages were
beginning of the school year, September, always given in years and months. If a child enters school at the beginning of the school year between the ages of six and seven, and is advanced a grade each year, he should be in the second grade between seven and eight, the third grade between eight and nine, the fourth grade between nine and ten, the fifth grade between ten and eleven, the sixth grade between eleven and twelve, the seventh grade between twelve and thirteen, Without any the eighth grade between thirteen and fourteen. loss of time he would finish the elementary course of eight grades at fourteen years of age. The school course has been planned with (40)
TABLE I. ELEVEN
GRADED
SCnOOLS.
Grades
Total
N.
B.
N.
B.
158 132 79 90 41 26 13 9 18 20
213 65 104 31 26 12 15 20 48 8 127
76 99 60 46 40 22 8 5 10 4 109
179 76 74 29 24 14 11 25 55 5 205
N.
B.
N.
B.
N.
173 109 98 57 55 29 11 22 37 1 230
46 71 44 51 26 12 10 2
186 103 70 36 56 18 6 8 20 7 211
34 71 46 34 25 8 6 2 3 5 59
334 721 1055
293
N.
B.
N.
148 83 90 19 60 29 20 8 19 6 154
38 61 28 38 25 10 5 2 5 7 59
102 85 68 14 55 19 19 10 7 5 126
24 55 20 39 26 5 13
636 929
278
Per
Cent
B.
N.
m
Streator Ottawa La Salle Peru Princeton E. Mendota Henry De Pue Ladd Neponset Freeport
207 148 147 84 58
Totals.
1070 678 1748
Totals in per cent. More than i year behind Per cent more than i year behind
33 16 28 42 12 295
61.21
291 67 69 10 35 10 11 21 42 10 112
38.79 202 11.55
669 685 1354
50.59
49.41 248 10.83
479 697 1176
40.73
91 92 46 44 30 7 5 6
'12 79
412 822 1234
4 68
59.27 33.38 66.62 31.66 247 21.01
510
279
240
24.95
26.44
25.83
'
'ii
5 7 114
4 44
244
414 658
788
68.34 31.54 68.46 35.28
308
77 70 50 9 51 21 10
64.72 37.08 62.92 183 23.22
142 21.56
674 729 470 426 271 123 76 54 92 68 812
1369 658 623 205 362 152 103 114 233 49 1279
2043 1377 1093 631 633 265 179 168 325 117 2091
67.51 32.49 42.81 57.18 46.41 53.59 42.96 57.04 32.28 67.72 28.30 71.70 58.12 41.88 38.83 61.17
3795 5147 8942
8942
42.44 57.56
42.44
57.56 1849
20.67
32.99 67.01 52.94 47.06
43.00 57.00
42
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINIC.
this idea in mind, and the normal child can complete the course by the time he is fourteen years old, unless there is some serious handicap which impedes his progress. In table I a summary of all data collected from the eleven graded schools is given. Among the many things shown in this table
are
1.
the following: There were reported from these schools 8942
pupils of which number 3795, or 42.44 per cent were in the normal grade, or ahead of it, and 5147, or 57.56 per cent were behind the normal grade. 2.
Of the total number of
pupils reported 3298,
or
36.89
20.67 per cent are two 1849, year behind, or more behind. of pupils reported in Of the total number years the first ten systems 552, or 8 per cent are ahead of the normal per cent
and
are one
or
grade. The per cent of pupils behind constantly increases grade by grade from the first to the sixth, after which there is a decrease in per cent behind for the remainder of the elementary course. The climax of retardation is reached in the fifth and sixth grades. 3.
There is the greatest increase in retardation in the second, grades, and the least in the fifth and sixth.
4.
third and fourth
Over 50 per cent of the children are behind in all grades Almost 50 per cent are behind in the second
5.
above the second.
(49.41 6.
per cent). Elimination
commences
with the fifth
tinues until the close of the elementary commences where retardation is greatest.
grade
course.
and
con-
Elimination
7. The per cent of retardation decreases where the per cent of elimination is greatest. As retardation decreases elimination increases. 8.
greatest
The per cent of pupils more than one year behind is in the fifth and sixth grades, the place where elimination After the fifth
commences.
cent
retarded 9.
are
there is the
per cent
a
decrease in the per
systems where a large per cent foreign parents (Streator, Ladd,
gratest
retardation and elimination.
of the and
pupils DePue),
gives a summary of all data collected from the 139 Among other things this table shows the following: Of a total of 2090 children reported 970, or 46.41 per in the normal grade, or ahead of it, and 1120, or 53.59
Table II rural schools. 1.
there is
In school
children of
cent are
grade
two or more years.
are
retarded.
TABLE ONE
HUNDRED
AND THIRTY-NINE
II
RURAL
SCHOOLS
IN
BUREAU
N.
177
207
Total in per cent.. 69.89
B.
N.
127
107
30.11
58.22
41.78
More than 1 year 19
48
cent more 1 year be6.41
B.
N.
138
138
245
304
296
Per than hind
ILL.
6
Grades
behind
CO.,
15.78
43.68
57.32
44.81
170 308 55.19
N.
158
74
249 36.54
28.57
B.
133
99
63.46
36.54
35.81
B.
N.
198
77
297
207
91
68
27.75
91
B.
Totals
64.19 66
31.88
33.33
107
970
58.16
46.41
184
66.67 135
45.45
41.84
Total
B.
68
36.95
1120 2090 53.59 583
28.37
2090
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINIC.
44 2.
Of the total number
retarded
one
year, and
583,
reported 537,
or
or
28.37 per cent
25.22 per cent are
retarded
are
two
or
more
years. Of the total number 3. normal grade.
251,
or
12 per cent
are
ahead of the
4. There is a constantly increasing per cent retarded until the seventh grade with the exception of the fourth grade. 5. There is a constantly increasing per cent behind two or more years until the eighth grade with the exception of the sixth grade. In the eighth grade there is a drop in the per cent retarded
This years as well as in the total number retarded. due to the older children dropping out of school. Notice the great elimination which takes place this year. two
is
or
more
probably In
facts
comparing
are
and
contrasting
these two tables the
following
apparent:
larger per cent of children are retarded in the graded in the rural schools (57.56 per cent in the graded than systems and 53.59 per cent in the rural schools). systems, A larger per cent of children of the rural schools are 2. A
1.
retarded two
or more
years than in the
graded systems (28.37
per
cent in the rural schools and 20.67 per cent in the graded systems). 3. There is a larger per cent of children ahead of grade in
the rural schools than in the graded systems (12 per cent ahead in rural schools and 9 per cent in the graded systems). 4. The per cent of retarded cases in the rural schools increases to the seventh grade, the greatest per cent being in that while in the graded systems the maximum per cent retarded
grade,
is reached in the sixth
grade.
5. Elimination commences earlier in the graded schools than in the rural schools. Following this investigation, and growing out of it, was
another which had for its purpose so
much retardation.
Teachers
to find the cause, or causes, of asked to study the different
were
of retardation
coming under their immediate observation and together with the cause of it. Blanks were report furnished and reports made as in the other investigation. There was a total of 1352 retarded pupils reported, and the cause of retardation in each case was given. A tabulation of these reports gives the following results: 274, or 20.2 per cent were retarded because of moving cases
the
same
from
271,
or
one
20
entrance.
district to another.
per cent
were
retarded because of late
GRADED AND RURAL SCHOOLS.
265, 200,
45
or 19.6 per cent were retarded because of laziness, or indifference on the part of parent, or pnpil. or 14.8 per cent were retarded on account of sick-
ness.
140, 52,
or 10.3 per cent cal defects. or
3.8 per cent
from, 46,
or
to,
a
were
parochial
3.4 per cent
or
retarded
were
were
on
account of
retarded because of
physichange
school.
retarded because of slow devel-
opment.
104,
or
7.6 per cent
retarded for other (27), work (5), lack of
were
causes
ability including truancy (30), cause not given (42). The difficulty which foreign children have in mastering English, and the handicap which this is to a foreign child was not taken into consideration here, although in the Hound Table later it was the unanimous opinion that this does offer a serious handiIt was also the cap and must be given as one of the causes. opinion of the superintendents that the results of this investigation "When comare not so reliable as the results of the previous one. pared with data collected by Mr. Wagner, and reported in the November Clinic, there is a striking similarity, and this encourages we
us
to think that
thought
at first.
our
results
are
not
so
far out of the way
as
Gayler,
Superintendent of Schools, Princeton,
Illinois.
During the winter of 1909 the material upon which this study of retardation and elimination is based was secured from the eleven graded systems given in the table below, and from 139 rural schools of Bureau County, Illinois. Blank forms, asking for a tabulation of the age and grade of all school children enrolled in the different systems, were sent to the superintendents and principals, with the request that these be properly filled out and The data from the Freeport schools returned at an early date. were taken from the annual statement of the superintendent of those schools.
These
same
rural schools of Bureau
blanks
were
sent to the teachers of the
County by County Superintendent
Claude submitted to the writer of this study, after which the whole subject was presented by him to the Illinois Yalley Superintendents' and and Principals' Round Table for consideration and discussion.
Brown.
All these reports article for tabulation and
legal
were
In the schools from which this material was collected the age of entrance is six years. Reports from the superinten-
charge show that but few children are kept out of school they are seven years old. More often parents are anxious
dents in until
have their children in school before six years of age, and sometimes considerable pressure is brought to bear to secure admission for children who have not yet reached the legal age. The data given in this paper are all based upon the ages of to
children taken at the 1908. All ages were
beginning of the school year, September, always given in years and months. If a child enters school at the beginning of the school year between the ages of six and seven, and is advanced a grade each year, he should be in the second grade between seven and eight, the third grade between eight and nine, the fourth grade between nine and ten, the fifth grade between ten and eleven, the sixth grade between eleven and twelve, the seventh grade between twelve and thirteen, Without any the eighth grade between thirteen and fourteen. loss of time he would finish the elementary course of eight grades at fourteen years of age. The school course has been planned with (40)
TABLE I. ELEVEN
GRADED
SCnOOLS.
Grades
Total
N.
B.
N.
B.
158 132 79 90 41 26 13 9 18 20
213 65 104 31 26 12 15 20 48 8 127
76 99 60 46 40 22 8 5 10 4 109
179 76 74 29 24 14 11 25 55 5 205
N.
B.
N.
B.
N.
173 109 98 57 55 29 11 22 37 1 230
46 71 44 51 26 12 10 2
186 103 70 36 56 18 6 8 20 7 211
34 71 46 34 25 8 6 2 3 5 59
334 721 1055
293
N.
B.
N.
148 83 90 19 60 29 20 8 19 6 154
38 61 28 38 25 10 5 2 5 7 59
102 85 68 14 55 19 19 10 7 5 126
24 55 20 39 26 5 13
636 929
278
Per
Cent
B.
N.
m
Streator Ottawa La Salle Peru Princeton E. Mendota Henry De Pue Ladd Neponset Freeport
207 148 147 84 58
Totals.
1070 678 1748
Totals in per cent. More than i year behind Per cent more than i year behind
33 16 28 42 12 295
61.21
291 67 69 10 35 10 11 21 42 10 112
38.79 202 11.55
669 685 1354
50.59
49.41 248 10.83
479 697 1176
40.73
91 92 46 44 30 7 5 6
'12 79
412 822 1234
4 68
59.27 33.38 66.62 31.66 247 21.01
510
279
240
24.95
26.44
25.83
'
'ii
5 7 114
4 44
244
414 658
788
68.34 31.54 68.46 35.28
308
77 70 50 9 51 21 10
64.72 37.08 62.92 183 23.22
142 21.56
674 729 470 426 271 123 76 54 92 68 812
1369 658 623 205 362 152 103 114 233 49 1279
2043 1377 1093 631 633 265 179 168 325 117 2091
67.51 32.49 42.81 57.18 46.41 53.59 42.96 57.04 32.28 67.72 28.30 71.70 58.12 41.88 38.83 61.17
3795 5147 8942
8942
42.44 57.56
42.44
57.56 1849
20.67
32.99 67.01 52.94 47.06
43.00 57.00
42
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINIC.
this idea in mind, and the normal child can complete the course by the time he is fourteen years old, unless there is some serious handicap which impedes his progress. In table I a summary of all data collected from the eleven graded schools is given. Among the many things shown in this table
are
1.
the following: There were reported from these schools 8942
pupils of which number 3795, or 42.44 per cent were in the normal grade, or ahead of it, and 5147, or 57.56 per cent were behind the normal grade. 2.
Of the total number of
pupils reported 3298,
or
36.89
20.67 per cent are two 1849, year behind, or more behind. of pupils reported in Of the total number years the first ten systems 552, or 8 per cent are ahead of the normal per cent
and
are one
or
grade. The per cent of pupils behind constantly increases grade by grade from the first to the sixth, after which there is a decrease in per cent behind for the remainder of the elementary course. The climax of retardation is reached in the fifth and sixth grades. 3.
There is the greatest increase in retardation in the second, grades, and the least in the fifth and sixth.
4.
third and fourth
Over 50 per cent of the children are behind in all grades Almost 50 per cent are behind in the second
5.
above the second.
(49.41 6.
per cent). Elimination
commences
with the fifth
tinues until the close of the elementary commences where retardation is greatest.
grade
course.
and
con-
Elimination
7. The per cent of retardation decreases where the per cent of elimination is greatest. As retardation decreases elimination increases. 8.
greatest
The per cent of pupils more than one year behind is in the fifth and sixth grades, the place where elimination After the fifth
commences.
cent
retarded 9.
are
there is the
per cent
a
decrease in the per
systems where a large per cent foreign parents (Streator, Ladd,
gratest
retardation and elimination.
of the and
pupils DePue),
gives a summary of all data collected from the 139 Among other things this table shows the following: Of a total of 2090 children reported 970, or 46.41 per in the normal grade, or ahead of it, and 1120, or 53.59
Table II rural schools. 1.
there is
In school
children of
cent are
grade
two or more years.
are
retarded.
TABLE ONE
HUNDRED
AND THIRTY-NINE
II
RURAL
SCHOOLS
IN
BUREAU
N.
177
207
Total in per cent.. 69.89
B.
N.
127
107
30.11
58.22
41.78
More than 1 year 19
48
cent more 1 year be6.41
B.
N.
138
138
245
304
296
Per than hind
ILL.
6
Grades
behind
CO.,
15.78
43.68
57.32
44.81
170 308 55.19
N.
158
74
249 36.54
28.57
B.
133
99
63.46
36.54
35.81
B.
N.
198
77
297
207
91
68
27.75
91
B.
Totals
64.19 66
31.88
33.33
107
970
58.16
46.41
184
66.67 135
45.45
41.84
Total
B.
68
36.95
1120 2090 53.59 583
28.37
2090
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINIC.
44 2.
Of the total number
retarded
one
year, and
583,
reported 537,
or
or
28.37 per cent
25.22 per cent are
retarded
are
two
or
more
years. Of the total number 3. normal grade.
251,
or
12 per cent
are
ahead of the
4. There is a constantly increasing per cent retarded until the seventh grade with the exception of the fourth grade. 5. There is a constantly increasing per cent behind two or more years until the eighth grade with the exception of the sixth grade. In the eighth grade there is a drop in the per cent retarded
This years as well as in the total number retarded. due to the older children dropping out of school. Notice the great elimination which takes place this year. two
is
or
more
probably In
facts
comparing
are
and
contrasting
these two tables the
following
apparent:
larger per cent of children are retarded in the graded in the rural schools (57.56 per cent in the graded than systems and 53.59 per cent in the rural schools). systems, A larger per cent of children of the rural schools are 2. A
1.
retarded two
or more
years than in the
graded systems (28.37
per
cent in the rural schools and 20.67 per cent in the graded systems). 3. There is a larger per cent of children ahead of grade in
the rural schools than in the graded systems (12 per cent ahead in rural schools and 9 per cent in the graded systems). 4. The per cent of retarded cases in the rural schools increases to the seventh grade, the greatest per cent being in that while in the graded systems the maximum per cent retarded
grade,
is reached in the sixth
grade.
5. Elimination commences earlier in the graded schools than in the rural schools. Following this investigation, and growing out of it, was
another which had for its purpose so
much retardation.
Teachers
to find the cause, or causes, of asked to study the different
were
of retardation
coming under their immediate observation and together with the cause of it. Blanks were report furnished and reports made as in the other investigation. There was a total of 1352 retarded pupils reported, and the cause of retardation in each case was given. A tabulation of these reports gives the following results: 274, or 20.2 per cent were retarded because of moving cases
the
same
from
271,
or
one
20
entrance.
district to another.
per cent
were
retarded because of late
GRADED AND RURAL SCHOOLS.
265, 200,
45
or 19.6 per cent were retarded because of laziness, or indifference on the part of parent, or pnpil. or 14.8 per cent were retarded on account of sick-
ness.
140, 52,
or 10.3 per cent cal defects. or
3.8 per cent
from, 46,
or
to,
a
were
parochial
3.4 per cent
or
retarded
were
were
on
account of
retarded because of
physichange
school.
retarded because of slow devel-
opment.
104,
or
7.6 per cent
retarded for other (27), work (5), lack of
were
causes
ability including truancy (30), cause not given (42). The difficulty which foreign children have in mastering English, and the handicap which this is to a foreign child was not taken into consideration here, although in the Hound Table later it was the unanimous opinion that this does offer a serious handiIt was also the cap and must be given as one of the causes. opinion of the superintendents that the results of this investigation "When comare not so reliable as the results of the previous one. pared with data collected by Mr. Wagner, and reported in the November Clinic, there is a striking similarity, and this encourages we
us
to think that
thought
at first.
our
results
are
not
so
far out of the way
as
