Causes of Non-Promotion
- Author:
Geokge L. Farley,
Superintendent of Public Schools, Brockton, Mass.
The following statistics show facts in regard to non-promotion of pupils in the Brockton Grade Schools in June, 1912. The idea of collecting this data originated in a suggestion on one of the cards sent out by the Russell Sage Foundation. No discussion of the matter was had with the teachers, and thus it was possible for all to act without restriction.
Below is a sample card: Name Brockton Public School Non-promotion Card School 191 Grade Parent Residence Was not promoted for the following Undeblined Reason : INCAPACITY (MENTAL) PERSONAL ILLNESS INDIFFERENCE IRREGULAR ATTENDANCE PHYSICAL DEFECTS Teacher Prin. A card for each pupil not promoted is to be filled in and sent to the office of the Superintendent.
The data obtained made it clear that the division “Mental Incapacity” did not differentiate as fully as might be desired. The cards so marked were given to the school nurse, Miss Minnie A. Bobbins, who on her visits to the schools subdivided the returns as shown in table II into heredity, incapacity, non-English speaking, immaturity.
Table I shows the number of non-promotions by schools, the percentage based on the June enrolment, and the numbers by grades. The names of the schools are omitted as they shed no light on the facts. The total number and the percentage for the entire system are the most interesting facts brought out on this sheet. Varying numbers, however, indicate lack of uniformity in the TABLE I. Schools A B C D Total not promoted 25 29 20 18 E ! 20 F ! 1 G H I J K L M N 6 o 6 38 5 4 31 9 O 20 P 27 Q R S T U V w X Y Z AA BB CC 5 6 11 62 8 1 4 4 6 4 14 0 0 386 Per cent not promoted .082 .060 .057 .088 .08 .002 .048 .032 .051 .048 .058 .03 .066 .021 .147 .069 .033 .009 .13 .078 .022 .04 .03 .032 .046 .025 .155 .000 .000 Grades .053 3 1 3 10 2 1 3 4 1 6 82 10 3 65 1 11 3 7 1 2 2 1 2 8 54 2 10 1 1 1 37 47 33 10 2 6 11 29 33
standards of promotion. They suggest also that in cases where numbers run considerably larger than the average, investigation might reveal causes which could be corrected. The places where these conditions exist are clearly brought out and a yearly investigation would show whether they are constant or variable. Table II shows the numbers of non-promotions arranged by reasons as determined by the teachers. In some cases teachers assigned more than one reason so that the total number will naturally be greater the number of non-promotions. Incapacity under the new sub-divisions indicates lack of ability to grasp the work of the grade. As non-English speaking children are taught in four
TABLE II. Schools A B C D E F G H 1 J IC L M N O P Q it s T U V W X Y Z AA Mental Incapacity Hered. Incap. N-Eng. Immat, 39 1 1 1 1 14 14 12 5 1 1 3 10 3 3 6 8 3 5 11 3 3 28 1 5 1 5 149 40 Indif. 16 8 3 5 3 3 17 3 7 4 4 16 1 1 15 1 1 112 Pers. 111. 2 1 2 2 3 5 1 2 5 7 1 6 2 1 1 11 1 6 65 Irrcg. Attend 81 Physical Defects 30
centers in the system, the number of non-promotions for this cause would of necessity be small, the children being kept in these rooms until they are able to do regular grade work. Few, however, remain in these rooms for a period of one year. The number who failed because of immaturity in a svstem which admits at five years of age seems relatively small. *Why so much indifference ??arouses in the mind the question whether it might not well be made a matter of investigation in the hope of removing the causes.
The following diagram shows the data plotted. The line marked No. I represents what would have been the result had the average percent of failures for the entire system held in all grades. This would seem to indicate what has often been felt to be true, that in the lower grades, where children are young, teachers do not see the need of promotions, or the results of non-promotions, as do the teachers in the upper grades where the age enters as a very important factor.
Necessarily as the data cover but one year the conclusions to be drawn can be few, but if the practice is continued for a series of years, it may be expected that greater uniformity of standard will result, and corrections and improvements will be brought about in the present rather haphazard method of promotions. No. 1 VI VII GRADES
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