An Experiment in Classifying Primary Grade Children by Mental Age

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the City Normal School of Rochester, N. Y., to determine the advisability of classifying children in the first, second and third grades. From the data obtained the following conclusions are some that have been suggested: (1) In grades where classification is not based upon mental age, one finds between the children of a single class a difference in intelligence quotient as great as 79 points. (2) Both mental ages and intelligence quotients must be considered in arranging classes. (3) Slow groups should be formed from the first grade up, and a special curriculum worked out which will fit these children to earn a living, since most of them never get beyond the sixth grade. (4) The superior children, instead of skipping grades, may be given double work. (5) Where the first grade work is standardized upon the basis of the performance of average children six years old chronologically, no child should be allowed to enter the first grade before he has attained a mental age of six years. From Psych Bulletin 20:11:01142. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)