A Study of the Binet Definition Tests

used in American public schools. The definitions?the feature chosen for this study?make possible a written test from the second grade through the eighth. While written work is undoubtedly more difficult than oral, this written definition test has several advantages, namely: 1. Time. This test occupied forty minutes. !No superintendent can himself take the time to examine separately over a thousand children. 2. Fitness. The definitions are among the tests said by Binet to determine the maturity of intellect (la maturite as distinguished from la rectitude), and being a language test, are more likely to grade power to do school work as at present conducted, than are some of the other tests. 3. Trustworthiness. As the test was made at the same hour throughout the city and the papers were taken up before the close of the session, the pupils had no chance to learn from each other what the questions were. The teachers themselves were ignorant of what the test was to be, and even of its purpose. 4. Service as a coarse sieve. As the written test is more difficult than the oral, pupils passing it may safely be considered as regular, that is, of normal intellectuality for their age. The comparatively small number who do not pass it, may be examined afterward orally and their status determined. The test was given in the first part of March, 1911, to 784 pupils in the elementary schools. These were mainly children in the public schools at St. Cloud, where arrangements were made for the test through the courtesy of Superintendent A. !N\ Farmer, and in the practice classes at the State Normal school. Afterward a set of papers was sent in from the Elk River schools by Miss Ruth Atkins. Valuable assistance was rendered by Miss Belle Ranney of Wellesley College, both in reading papers and examining orally children of the first grade.