[Review of the book Ability grouping in the junior high school

Abstract

Reviews the book, Ability grouping in the junior high school by H. H. Ryan and P. Crecelius (1927). The reviewer states that the authors have selected a problem of pressing importance and dealt with it in a manner combining common sense, technical knowledge, and experience. In the first three chapters they bring forth reasons for homogeneous grouping of school children. Then they give their views on what characteristics are most important in ability grouping, and how data on these characteristics may be gathered and analyzed. The factors used are chronological age, mental age, intelligence quotient, pedagogical age, anatomical age, social age, height, weight, general condition of health and rank in class. These diverse elements are all placed upon a diagnosis chart and a "profile" for each child is drawn. The authors have wisely refrained from attempting to summarize these factors in one numerical coefficient. More emphasis is placed upon intelligence than upon any other trait in classification, but this index is by no means slavishly followed. According to the reviewer, the authors deserve commendation for writing an interesting and readable book in a somewhat technical field. Their English is vigorous, clear and stimulating--a feature which is always worth while. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)