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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1925)
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE TESTS HELP SOLVE STUDENT PROBLEMS Method of Minimizing Errors in Intellectual Performance Needed Says Dr. R. H. Wheeler By Georgia Stone “Just as a scientific study of the method of play in tennis leads to greater efficiency in that game, so a scientific study of our mental op erations can he turned to the stu dent’s advantage in meeting the demands of a college course,” said Dr. Raymond H. Wheeler, professor of psychology, - in explaining >the adoption of the intelligence tests for all entering freshmen students at the University of Oregon. “The intelligence test is simply one of many instruments employed to help the student adjust himself to the requirements of an academic course.” The use of intelligence tests in universities is an outgrowth of two movements, according to Dr. Wheel er—the use of the group intellectual tests on adults in the army, and in vestigations by the National Re search Council. Recognizing the country’s needs, the National Re search Council has been studying ways and means of assisting col leges and universities in ifinding out and in stimulating worthy indi viduals, who are intellectually qual ified, to go into research. No sooner had tests been tried out, sev eral years ago, than it was discov ered that they were quite as useful in helping the student who was mal adjusted as in pointing out the po tential expert in research. “Increasing demands on a student keep pace with the selective process as we go from lower to higher edu cation,” said Dr. Wheeler. “So there are many students in college who fail, who should not fail, and it is not their fault; there are many who are wasting their time because they are not making the best - of their opportunities, as well as many who could profitably do very much more than is required of them and could do it without any physical or mental strain. Since higher educa tion is a costly thing, it is felt that new methods that will promote ef ficiency and motivate higher types of work, will be economically as well as morally justified. “There is nothing meritorious about getting a high intelligence rating, and nothing disgraceful about getting a low one,” continued Dr. Wheeler. “Variations in intel ligence are quite as natural and should be taken as much a matter of course as variations in height or weight. If you weigh 200 pounds and are husky, there are many phy sical feats 'y°u oan perform that 'the fellow weighing 100 pounds can not do, but that does not make you a better person than the one weigh ing 100 pounds. The criterion of merit is not absolute, but propor tional. It is measured by the ratio of his actual performance to his phy sical and mental strength. “What we need is a means of minimizing the errors we have al ways made in predicting intellectual performance. We also need >an in strument that will make possible prediction and guidance where they have been totally neglected in the past. It has been shown over and over again that personal judgments of intelligence are inaccurate for the reason that we unconsciously and almost inevitably allow personal feeling to bias our judgment. “Grades are nowhere nearly as accurate as many people suppose them to be. Numerous investiga tions have shown that intelligence ratings are more reliable than grades in the prediction of future success. But it must be remember ed that no claim of infallibility is made for intelligence tests, but we do know that when tests are used in connection with these other cri teria, stich as grades and personal observation, we can predict success, pass on borderline cases and advise the student in many ways far more justly than we can without using the tests. “His much-cherished- freedom avails a student nothing if he does not have ability, and\ it is cer tainly an advantage to him to be so situated that he can exercise this capacity with the greatest amount of freedom. Unless he is treated as an indivdiual case or in a special group, that privilege can not be given him. It is to his ad vantage that we should find him out early and keep our eye on him throughout his college course. We should be able to pick out those likely to have difficulty with their college course and help them indi vidually before they get too deeply into trouble. We should find those whose failures are inevitable, not only saving considerable expense on their part, but helping them decide upon a more appropriate type of education. “Scholarship committees, disci pline committees, the deans, advanc ed standing committees, committees on special students, all, will find uses for intelligence tests too num erous to mention here. The tests will not be used in eliminating a candidate for college entrance, but they will increase our accuracy in j advising the student after he has been given a chance whether to, interest himself further in higher j intellectual pursuits. “For example; here is a person before the probation committee. His grades indicate that he should be flunked out. He is a misfit, he lacks aptitude for his course; it is a waste of his time and of the uni versity’s to keep him. Suppose, however, that his rating is high and you know he could capably do the work if something avoidable were not interfering. Make a spe cial casei of him, and give him an other chance, but remove the diffi culty if possible.” Testing is only one feature of a comprehensive program for the guidance of the student, Dr. Wheeler pointed out. Among oth ers are the special placement or content examinations used in sec tioning of classes on the basis of aptitude and previous training, ways and means of promoting intellectual ^comradeship, keeping character rec ords, activity records, etc. “The faculty here decided to make a small beginning along this line of educational guidance and to take but one step at a time, conse quently for the present, use of in telligence tests is the only feature of the entire program that has been adopted officially,” said Dr. Wheel er. “On the other hand, it must be ^understood that the usefulness of tests increases as other features of the plan are adopted, and "in partic ular, the feature of sectioning of classes. This has not been finally approved by the faculty, except that the principle has been endorsed. There are so many mechanical dif ficulties in the way that it is pos sible that sectioning will not be parried out in many departments for a long time, but it has been carried out in some departments on the cam pus for several years. Therefore, as far as sectionining is concerned, we are not instituting anything new. “More than 65 universities are using tests, and we have made a very thorough study of the situa tion, corresponding with more than 45 institutions. Several institu tions have sectioned classes for years. “Dean J. B. Johnstone of the col lege of literature, science and the arts, University of Minnesota, states: ‘As to sectioning classes on the basis of ability, some of our departments have done this for many years, and the practice is slowly growing. In 1921 the fac ulty voted to approve such a prac tice and to encourage departments to arrange their schedules so that classes might be sectioned in that way.’ “Columbia, Iowa and JPrinceton are other institutions where sec tioning is becoming a regular prac tice or where it has been done for years. “Before we contemplate very seriously any extensive scheme for the sectioning of classes,” said Dr. Wheeler, “we shall give the first step a thorough chance to prove its worth. The success of a testing program depends ^to a great extent upon a wholehearted I co-operation between students and faculty. It would be a great mistake if any one conceived the idea that these departures place additional burden and restriction upon the student. As a matter of fact, any guidance program works for democracy rath er than autocracy.” FRESHMEN UNAWARE OF TORTURE TUNNEL How many freshmen know that the Oregon campus has a tunnel under it? This extends from the sociology 'building ysouth. acrbss Thirteenth street, and is of con crete, about seven feet high and seven feet across. The maba steam heating line passes through this tunnel and con nects with the various buildings. When the tunnel was new and the pipe did not leak a great deal, it was a favorite initiation stunt to put frightened frosh in the tunnel. But nowadays so much steam es capes that the place is scorching hot. It is very difficult for workmen to stay in it long enough even to make necessary repairs. The central plant, now, in the building with the University depot, was formerly in the sociology build ing, until moved over a year ago. There are three boilers in the sys tem, but only two are now used. Each generates over 250 horse power, and they burn from 12 to I 14 cords of wood a day. The #uel is ground into fine pieces, known as hog fuel, and is dumped into a conveyor, which carries it to the fire-box. PATRONIZE EMERALD ADVERTISERS OREGON DEBATERS LEAD IS LATEST AGIN REPORT Final Results of Contest Delayed By KLX Incomplete returns for the Uni versity of Oregon-Stanford univer sity Tadio debate show the north ern team to be in the lead, accord ing to an informal announcement made by the extension division yes terday. These include the com plete returns filed with KGW of the Morning Oregonian covering everything north of the California line since all listeners living north of that line sent their votes to KGW. The reason for the failure to an nounce the final results last Sun day morning in the Oregonian as was originally planned is that radio KLX of the Oakland Tribune has not given out its final report yet, according to the incomplete an nouncement of the extension divi sion. All those living south of the California-Oregon line mailed their votes to radio KLX. Votes have been coming in daily. When the final amounts have arrived in both the northern and the southern sta tion the results will be published in the Oregonian. The extension division is not certain when this announcement wijl be made. The debate wti held during the spring vacation an Wednesday, March 25. The University team assembled in radio KGW, while the Stanford team assembled in KLX. The subject was, “Resolved that the Emmigration Act of 1924 should be amended as to admit Japanese on the same basis as Europeans.” The northern team pointed out that it would not admit many of the members of the yellow race into this country; perhaps three or four dozen per year. They pointed out that there was a moral question in volved; that of shutting out one of the five world’s greatest powers. Another point advanced by the Oregon team was that the act was passed by a group of politicians in Congress in the heat of passion. The Stanford team pointed out that the Japanese- would not amal gamate since they were biologically different from the Americans, inis was the main theme of their whole argument. PATRONIZE EMERALD ADVERTISERS CLASSES IN BALLET DANCING For University Women Postponed on acount of April Frolic WILL BEGIN Tuesday, April 14 7 p. m. Laraway Hall KATHERINE IRVIN STANG For particulars phbne 163J MISS SHELLY TO SPEAK AT GIRLS’ CONFERENCE Miss Mary Josephine Shelly of the physical education department, will leave next week for The Dalles, where she will attend the meeting of the Girls’ League. Miss Shelly will address the girls of The Dalles schools Thursday, the 18, on the “Necessity of Physical Activ ity for the Health of the Body.” Though the convention is only' a local one it has become one of the most significant programs put on by the secondary schools in the state. Every year The Dalles high school sets aside three days for Girls’ week and for the past three years the University of Oregon has been represented by some woman on its faculty. The convention is. for the purpose of discussing such problems as dealt with sociology, health, and other matters which deal with vocations for girls. Miss Shelly will be ac companied at the convention by Dean Jameson of Oregon Agricul tural college and Dean Pitch of Whitman college. LUCILE W. STONE MARRIES P. C. KROHN OF DAKOTA Announcement has been made of the marriage of Miss Lucile W. Stone and P. C. Krohn on March 20, at Bend, Oregon., Mrs. Krohn, a senior in the school of music, is the daughter of Mrs. L. W. Stone of Duluth, Minnesota. Mr. Krohn, a former student of the University of Chicago, whose home is in Par go, North Dakota, is now in the offices of the S. P. & S. Railway company in Bend, Oregon. LAST VODVIL TRYOUTS TO BE HELD APRIL 17 Krau&e Wishes Additional Front Stage Acts April 17 has been set as the final day for try-outs for Junior Vodvil, and any acts submitted after that date will not be accepted, accord ing to a statement made by Paul Krausse, chairman for Vodvil. Daily try-outs are being held at 4 o’clock each afternoon at the College Side Inn, with the excep tion of Saturday and Sunday. Re hearsals for Vodvil are scheduled to begin April 20. As the author of the musical comedy, which was to have been presented as one of the acts, is not on the campus this term, no musi cal comedy will be presented this APPLICATION PHOTOS Best of Work Tollman Studios 734 Willamette St. Phone 770 Take it f From me* j If you’re hunting around for the best place to eat Easter Dinner —it’ll do you good to make your date for tlie ! Campa Shoppe. All kinds of nice Easter J surprises! j MUSIC BY | 11 Jlt-ib Pipers DINNER SERVED 5:30 P. M. TO 7:30 P. M. | Be Sure! Don’t Forget— Easter Dinner at Ue QJampa #ljnppc Summer Work Only a few days left in which to join the Real Silk Hosiery Organization CALL GORDON WILSON—730 year. Krausse, who will direct the [ rehearsals of the acts, felt that by * omitting the musical comedy this year he would have sufficient time ! in which to get the acts into better | Bhape. The best act presented at the April Frolic this evening will be given as one of the headliners at Vodvil. Up until the present time, about 10 acts have been submitted, and from these the best ones will be se lected. Additional acts, particu larly front stage acts, are re quested. DR. W. D. SMITH UNABLE TO MEET WITH TEACHERS Professor Warren D. Smith, who is the chairman of the geography council of the Inland Empire Teachers’ association, which meets in Seattle this week, will be unable to attend. This association com posed of teachers from the states MMKiEMEJSlEMEMSJfiJEiSMSJSlSiel3IS MASQUERADE SKATING Thursday, April 9th SPECIAL PRIZES SPECIAL STUNTS Don’t Miss This ^iHiiiiHinmiiiHmiimiiiiminiiniHiiv' Cash Prizes for Men Vanities for Ladies Admission - - - 30c WINTER GARDEN grarararararararaiBisiaiHraraiBraraiBiHraiiaf of Oregon, Washington, 'Montana and Idaho, meets in these differ ent states in turn. RADIO LECTURE DELIVERED BY PROFESSOR SWEETSER Professor A. R. 8weetser of the botany department, gave the radio lecture last night from radio KGW of the Morning Oregonian. He spoke on the hundredth anniversary of Douglas, the great botanist who came to Astoria just a century ago Thursday, April 9. On the anniver sary day he spoke on the same sub ject at Astoria to a group of Astor ians. Rex Shine Parlor The Only Place to Oet Your Shoes Shined Keep Your Floors Fit Johnson Floor Wax, lb. can.$ .75 Johnson’s Liquid Wax, pint ..75 Dancing Wax, large size .75 Floor Waxers, $1.75 to 3.60 Polishing Mops, 65c to 1.50 Quackenbush’s 160 NINTH AVE. EAST I I Smart Spring Hats FOR EASTER WEAR An air cf incomparable smartness marks each of the models on display at this shop. A quiet, unassuming smartness of course and for that reason, all the more distinctive. It is explained by the unfailing correct ness of line and by the clever use of ribbon, flowers and ornaments. Fashion allows perfect freedom of selection for dif fered types. on the Mezzanine Floor Weatherbee -Densmore LETITIA ABRAMS, Proprietor, Millinery Dept. Corner 10th and Willamette Lowell Theatre Bldg.* EAT SPRING ICE CREAM IN SPRING WEATHER I j Doesn't this spring weather make you feel drowsy? Let our Nougat-Fruit Combination Ice Cream, a spe cial for spring weather, spruce you up. Order now for Sunday and make yourself fit for another week of study and sport. Eugene Fruit Growers’ Association 8TH AND FERRY PHONE 1480 James Kirkwood Alma Rubens Marguerite De La Motte Richard Headrick Walter McGrail in THROUGHOUT THE AGES SOME WOMEN HAVE BEEN THE PAWNS OF WEA'.TH TODAY THEY&JC. THE VICTIMS OP THE MONEY CARRIAGE ! I “GERALD CRANSTON’S LADY” CHRISTIE COMEDY. Inti. News Le Roy DEVANEY at home on the WURLITZER Presented with a New Stage Novelty Specialty “Radio A La Rex” with a company of Seven Soloists Special —at 7 :25 Setting 9:30 p.m. Hear ‘Em HA! HA! HA! Get in the Laff Line “40 Winks” is doing its final stuff tonight I I ■ I I ■