Age per Grade of Truant and Difficult School Boys
- Author:
Walter S. Cornell, M.D.,
Philadelphia.
For the material used in this paper and its tabulation I am indebted to Miss Katherine Calwell, principal of Special School ‘No. 2, and Miss Mollie A. Woods, principal of Special School No. 6, Philadelphia. For the most part, it is the product of their kindly cooperative work.
AGE PER GRADE OF 236 BOYS IN SPECIAL DISCIPLINARY CLASSES OF THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS, SHOWING THEIR RETARDATION. Age in Years. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 GRADE. 1A IB 2A 2B 3A 3B 4A 4B 5A 5B 6A Av. age per half grade 5.8 10 9.9 7 11 1 10.6 2 4 10 16 9 11.6 11 5 7 11 7 5 11 2 1 11 9 5 11 5 2
These figures are incomplete as boys over 14 have left school Av. age per grade 9.4 Normal <age per grade 7 vrs. 10.3 11.8 yrs. 9 yrs.
The boys studied and reported upon in the accompanying table were pupils of Special School ISTo. 3 (Peirce Annex) and Special School No. 6 (Binney Annex), Philadelphia.
The bad boy problem requires a determination of the relative influences of heredity and environment and the relation of delinquency to deficiency.
It has long been the observation of teachers in the special classes for truant and troublesome boys that these boys are usually over-age for grade, intellectually below standard, although frequently precocious in “street wisdom/’ and physically inferior to ordinary boys. The question of age per grade is easily demonstrated by reference to the official records, and while acknowledging that it may signify previous truancy as well as inherently deficient mentality, it is valuable as a proof that the bad boy is not a bright boy, but is two years or more behind his fellows. It opens up, as well, a considerable field for thought concerning the personal treatment of these boys and the character of the studies for which they are best fitted. It is important to note that the two years’ retardation shown here is minimum, since the boys of the special schools without exception belong to the poorest class and leave school at once after attaining the age of fourteen years (the earliest age allowed by law). Many of these boys if compelled to stay in school until attaining the eighth grade would stay there a lifetime.
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