London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

London County Council 1913

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

This page requires JavaScript

212 Annual Report of the London County Council, 1913.

Finally a problem question such as, "What would you do if it was raining when you start to come to school?" The following results were obtained:—

Number succeeding.
Age last birthday9101112131415
Number tested20202030303020
Recognised real objects by name20202030303020
Recognised objects in picture18191830303020
Named objects pointed to in picture18191929303020
Compared lengths of lines18192030303020
Compared two weights811917192215
Arranged five weights in order with only one error25815172113
Definition of object. By use810151821189
By other features131091211
Contrasted familiar objects from memory44716192517
Auditory memory for—
3 numerals18202030303020
4 numerals17192028292920
5 numerals9111119222118
6 numerals2241012119
Auditory memory for sentences
6 syllables20202030303020
11 syllables15161626272818
18 syllables9101118212016
Replies to problem questions57614171814

Emotional Conditions.—The notes on these have been expressed in a terminology not easy to
sum up. As a general rule the younger children show considerable lack of interest, are distinctly
self-centred, and any acts of aggression are usually directed from motives of personal acquisition.
The manual training in the elder boys' schools has a marked effect on the volitional spontaneity.
Many boys can really date their progress from the commencement of constructive work, the advantages
of even a slight knowledge of some trade process unfamiliar to some of their normal companions
raises their self-respect, and is the first; and most powerful incentive to self-effort. About a
quarter of the cases seen at admission examination present marked negativism which it requires
much effort and coaxing to overcome.
Tests of Intelligence.—Description of pictures, objects, &c. The results were classified according to
the type of response. For example, taking the picture most, commonly used, Simple Simon fishing in a
bucket with his mother and a cat looking on, the simplest type of response would be simply "boy" or
"cat." A more advanced type is boy, cat, hens, lady, &c. Then "boy fishing," "a boy fishing in a
pail," and "a boy trying to fish or pretending to fish in a pail, his mother is laughing at him." The type
progresses with age, though the simpler forms persist, the chances of obtaining good numbers of the
higher type are kept down by the fact that children who respond well are sent, back on trial
to the ordinary elementary schools.
Age last birthday 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
One name per picture 5 3 1 1 — — 2
Enumeration of objects 3 4 3 7 5 3 4
Descriptive enumeration 4 3 4 6 5 6 6
Descriptive sentence 6 9 9 11 15 18 5
Interpretation by sentences 2 1 3 5 5 3 3
Reading capacity is recorded in terras of the size of the word read, the type of reading
employed, and how far the written matter is comprehended as tested by the response to certain
written commands, "Sit down," " Pick up a pen," k' Count your fingers," and one involving a calculation
such as "If you had a shilling and spent fourpence write down how much you would have left."

The results obtained were:—

Age last birthday9101112131415
Extent of reading.
Letters841----
2-3 letter words1114911633
Infants' primer128710117
Standard I reader.-289116
Standard II. upwards--4554
Type of reading
Letters or sounds of letters19171012543
Hesitant or jerky, syllable by syllable13614171911
Straightforward-44876
Successful response to written command.
Motor16811182118
Arithmetical--12798