The Physical Status of the Special Class for Bright Children at the University of Pennsylvania, Summer Session of 1912
- Author:
Harrison L. Harley,
Assistant in Psychology, University of Pennsylvania.
After a selection of bright children from the schools of the district in which the University is located had been made by the Social Service Department of the Laboratory of Psychology, the children reported to the Psychological Clinic for physical and mental tests and measurements. The weight, height, head and body dimensions were taken at this time, and certain other data were secured, such as general physical condition, stigmata, abnormalities, and mental age as determined by the Binet tests, all of which were entered upon the clinical records of the department.
The first interesting comparison is that of weight at the time of the first examination, made between April 26th and May 24th, and weight on July 1st. Of the children examined two did not increase in weight; one increased one-half pound (1.08 per cent); one, one pound (1.75 per cent); while one lost two and one-half pounds (3.51 per cent) and another lost four pounds (8.33 per cent). It has not been determined what causes were operative in reducing the weight in these two cases and causing it to remain stationary in two others. The figures given above will afford a comparison in terms of growth of the child’s response to his ordinary mode of life and schooling and to the life directed by the special class.
A study was accordingly made of the growth of each pupil during the six weeks of the summer session in order to determine the effects on the pupil of the school luncheons, rest period, gymnastic work, and especial care exercised at school and in the home through the instrumentality of the Social Service Department. To ascertain the growth of the pupil, his weight and height were very carefully recorded at the opening of the session on July 1st, and again at the close of the session on August 8th. A few exceptions occur in the case of pupils entering the class after the session had begun. Table A is a record of the weight of the children on July 1st and August 8th, and shows the gain in pounds of each pupil for the six weeks, as well as the per cent gain in weight. A consideration of table A brings forward some significant facts. In the first place,
TABLE A. SHOWING GAIN IN WEIGHT DUKING SESSION. Child. Weight at Opening of Summer School. Weight at ! Gain in Close of I Pounds Summer I and School. I Kilos. Per cent Gain in Weight during Session. Per cent Gain in Height during Session. I. Aet. 9 57 lbs.* 28.85 kg. 57 lbs, 25.85 kg. Did not report. II. Aet. 10 47 lbs. 21.32 kg. 49.5 lbs. | 2.5 lbs. 22.456 kg. j 1.136 kg. 5.32 0.02 , 51 lbs. III. Aet. 8 23.13 kg. 53 lbs. ! 2 lbs. 24.04 kg. 0.91 kg. 3.92 0.014 IV. Aet. 57 lbs. 62 lbs. 25.85 kg. I 28.12 kg. 5 lbs. 2.27 kg. 8.77 0.012 V. Aet. 8 40.5 lbs. 18.37 kg. 45 lbs. 20.41 kg. 4.5 lbs. 2.036 kg. 11.11 0.006 VI. Aet. 7 47.5 lbs. 21.546 kg. 52 lbs. 23.59 kg. 4.5 lbs. 2.036 kg. 9.47 Did not report. VII. Aet. 7 44 lbs. 19.96 kg. 49 lbs. 22.23 kg. 5 lbs. 2.27 kg. 11.36 Did not report. VIII. Aet. 7 50.5 lbs. 22.91 kg. 53 lbs. 24.04 kg. 2.5 lbs. 1.136 kg. 4.95 No Gain. IX. Aet. 58 lbs. 26.31 kg. 65 lbs. 29.48 kg. 7 lbs. 3.18 kg. 12.07 Gain very slight. X. Aet. 8 47.5 lbs. 21.546 kg. 51 lbs. 23.13 kg. 3.5 lbs. 1.586 kg. 7.36 0.005 XI. Aet. 10 75 lbs.* 34.02 kg. 77 lbs. 34.93 kg. 2 lbs. 0.91 kg. 2.66 No Gain.
Weight taken on entering school.
the work of the class was in no way deleterious to the health of the pupils; and secondly, in spite of academic work, confinement indoors, and the general tendency of July and August weather to lessen weight in children or at least cause it to remain unchanged, an appreciable gain in weight was registered for every pupil except one, and in some cases the gain was remarkably large. Particularly encouraging are those cases in which an increase in stature was also found, for in such instances a better bodily growth occurred.
The average increase in weight for the boys and girls of the class was 7 per cent. Table A records in the case of several individuals gains in weight ranging from about 7 per cent to about 12 per cent. When compared with the average yearly gain for the respective ages as recorded in such tables as are available for comparison, as, for example, Dr Hartwell’s,1 the per cent gains of table A may seem exceedingly large. Several conditions must be borne in mind, however. In the first place, growth shows a marked periodicity, and it is possible that the conditions of the school favored in certain cases the rapid increase in weight for the season under observation. Secondly, school children are particularly inclined to show great variations owing to the extent to which exercise is indulged in at various seasons. In this case, the period between the closing of the public schools and the opening of the special class might have been a period of excessive exercise for some of the children and accordingly a weight below the average for the child was recorded when the session opened. A gain of 9 or 10 per cent is not unusual. The writer has observed a boy who within the past six weeks (to March, 1913) has increased from 62.21 to 68 pounds?a gain of 9.3 per cent. The quantitative measurement of bodily improvement which the foregoing record presents may serve several purposes. The first concern of the Laboratory of Psychology was the securing of children for its Bright Class. After having determined the fitness of a certain child for admission to this class, the social workers of the Psychological Clinic must approach the parents of the child and convince them of the desirability of allowing him to attend. No argument is necessary to convince parents of the intellectual benefit to their child, but they rightfully question whether this intellectual progress will not be made at the expense of physical development, and harm thereby result. It is gratifying to the Department of Psychology to note that the figures afford a positive and convincing answer to the question of parent, teacher, or investigator interested in this particular work. Let a study be made at this point of the results at the end of the two periods, namely, from the first examination to July 1st, and from July 1st to August 8th. In the second place, the results of the care bestowed upon the pupils in the form of rest, luncheon, and so forth, will interest those persons concerned in the socialization of the schools. The school luncheon and rest period received during the summer session a thorough and typical, if not extended, trial.
Thirdly, the data given above and more in detail in table B possess some anthropometric value, but no research beyond the correlation of height and weight to age has been attempted. The conclusions to be drawn from the experience of the summer school are that where due attention is given to such matters as diet, rest, exercise, home surroundings, and physical conditions (teeth, eyes, throat, and so forth), the life of the school may foster physical improvement and well-being, as it has been made to serve the purposes of intellectual progress.
Child. Actual Age at Opening of Summer Session. Height at Time of Physical Examination. Weight at Time of Physical Examination. Average Height for Age, after Hastings. Height and Weight Correlation for Age, according to Hastings. Deviation. Weight at Opening of Summer Session, July 1,1912. Weight at Close of Summer Session, Aug.8,1912. Gain in Per Pounds | cent and | Can. Kilos. 9.25 49* 124.46 cm. 57 lbs. 25.85 kg. 49.55’ 125.80 cm. 124 cm. =24.70 kg. Fourth Group of 8 for Age. +2.55 lbs. 4-1.15 kg. 57 lbs.* 25.85 kg. 57 lbs. 25.85 kg. II 10. G6 48* 121.92 cm 45.5 lbs. 20.64 kg. 51.09* 131.29 cm. 122 cm. =22.70 kg. Lowest Group of 8 for Age. -4.54 lbs. -2.06 kg. 47 lbs. 21.32 kg. 49.5 lbs. 22.456 kg. 2.5 lbs. 1.136 kg. Ill 8.58 50’ 127 cm. 51.5 lbs. 23.36 kg. 47.31’ 120.16 cm. 126 cm. =25.53 kg. Highest Group of 8 for Age. -4.78 lbs -2.17 kg. 51 lbs. 23.13 kg. 53 lbs. 24.04 kg. 2 lbs. 0.91 kg. IV 50’ 8.4 127 cm. 57 lbs. 25.85 kg. 47.76’ 121.31cm. I 127 cm. =26.93 kg. Highest Group of 8 for Age. -2.37 lbs ? 1.07 kg. 57 lbs. 25.85 kg. 62 lbs. 28.12 kg. 5 lbs. 2.27 kg. 8.0 44.8’ 113.79 cm 43 lbs. 19.50 kg. 47.76’ 121.31 cm. 113 cm. =19.72 kg. Lowest Group of 8 for Age. -0.49 lbs. -0.22 kg. 40.5 lbs. 18.37 kg. 45 lbs. 20.41 kg. 4.5 lbs. 2.036 kg. VI 7.58 42.29’ 107.42 cm. 47.34 lbs. 21.47 kg. 45.26’ 114.95 cm. 107 cm. =17.38 kg. Lowest Group of 8 for Age. +9 .02 lbs. +4.09 kg. 47.5 lbs. 21.546 kg. 52 lbs. 23.59 kg. 4.5 lbs. 2.030 kg. VII 7.24 48’ 121.92 cm 48 lbs. 21.77 kg. 45.55’ 115.69 cm. 122 cm. =24.47 kg. Highest Group of 8 for Age. -5.95 lbs, -2.70 kg. 44 lbs. 19.96 kg. 49 lbs. 22.23 kg. 5 lbs. 2.27 kg. VIII 7.59 48.75’ 123.83 cm 50.5 lbs. 22.91 kg. 45.55’ 115.69 cm. 122 cm. =24.47 kg. Highest Group of 8 for Age. -3.44 lbs -1.50 kg. 50.5 lbs. 22.91 kg. 53 lbs. 24.04 kg. 2.5 lbs. 1.130 kg. IX 8.0 51.75’ 131.45 cm 57 lbs. 25.85 kg. 125.86 cm. at 9 Yrs. I 121.31 cm. Taken at 8 Yrs 132 cm. =28.36 kg. Highest Group of 8 for 9 Years +5.52 lbs +2.50 kg. 58 lbs. 26.31 kg. 05 lbs. 29.48 kg. 7 lbs. 3.18 kg. 8.34 44.65’ 113.41 cm 47 lbs. 21.55 kg. 47.76’ 121.31 cm. 113 cm. =19.72 kg. Lowest Group of 8 for Age. +4.03 lbs +1.83 kg. 47.5 lbs. 21.546 kg. 51 lbs. 23.13 kg. 3.5 lbs. 1.586 kg. XI 10.48 54.45’ 138.30 cm 75.5 lbs. 34.25 kg. 51.50* 130.95 cm. 138 cm. =31.08 kg. Sixth Group of 8 for 11 Years -7.0 lbs. +3.17 kg. 75 lbs.* 34.02 kg. 77 lbs. 34.93 kg. 2 lbs. 0.91 kg. ?Weight taken after opening of session. Average gain 6.99 per cent.
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