PUPILS UNDER AGE, OF NORMAL AGE, AND OVER AGE IN 1908 AND IN 1918.

From the preceding figures it is not possible to gain a general concept as to the per cent of pupils under age, of normal age, and over age. These relationships are best exhibited in Table 6 and in figure 6, where the corresponding percentages for 1908 and 1918 are placed

0 5 10 150 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

FIG. 6.-Average percentages of pupils under age, of normal age, and over age in 80 cities in 1908 and 1918.

in juxtaposition. The changes within this interval are shown for the two groups of cities separately and combined, for boys and girls, and for all pupils. The per cent of the under-age pupils in cities of group A has increased about threefold, while in cities of group B the corresponding increases have not been so marked. In every instance, however, the per cent of under-age pupils has increased. Likewise,

the proportion of children of normal age has increased for each group of cities and for both boys and girls. There has been a greater increase in the proportion of boys than of girls of normal age. These increases imply that the percentage of over-age pupils has decreased correspondingly. These facts are illustrated by the last column of bars in the diagram. The changes pointed out in this figure are highly significant. The school work offered to-day must come more nearly meeting the developing mental capacities of children than did the curricula 10 years ago. These commendable changes denote unmistakable progress in dealing with the problem of over-age pupils. It should be remarked that the percentages shown in figure 6 are averages-not medians. Thus for each 100 pupils enrolled in city schools in 1918, 12 were under age, 67 were of normal age, and 21 were over age. In 1908 out of each 100 pupils so enrolled, 4 were under age, 58 were of normal age, and 38 were over age. Within the last 10 years the proportion of under-age pupils has trebled, while the proportion over age has been almost cut in two (reduced from 38 to 21).

1

If it is desired to characterize city school practices an inspection of the corresponding median percentages must be made. In Table 6 and figure 7 these median percentages are exhibited. Consider, for instance, the first two series of bars in cities of group A, representing "boys" in 1908 and in 1918. At the former date as many cities had a proportion of under-age boys exceeding 3.6 as had a proportion less than this percentage, while in 1918 the corresponding median percentage was 11.5. In these instances an extra large city counts no more than a small city in the determination of the median. In a similar manner it is shown that as many cities had in 1908 more than 55.3 per cent of their pupils of normal age as had a smaller percentage, while in 1918 the corresponding divisional percentage had increased to 64.2. Within the same interval the median percentages of over age pupils were reduced from 39.4 per cent to 22.9 per cent. In a similar manner the other medians shown in the diagram may be interpreted. A marked difference between medians and averages is apparent in the cities of group B. Little change has been made in this group within the 10-year period in the average percentages of under-age pupils, but considerable change has taken place in the corresponding median percentages. An analysis of the percentage of over-age pupils is exhibited in Table 6 and figure 8. It is found that the percentage of pupils retarded one year exceeds the percentage retarded two years, three years, or for a longer period. Approximately half of the over-age pupils are only one year over age. In this diagram both averages and medians are shown. Ordinarily they are not essentially differ

for 1918 were only 12.7, 5.3, 1.9, and 0.9, respectively. Within this 2.3 per cent, four years or more. The corresponding percentages one year; 10.4 per cent, two years; 4.3 per cent, three years; and

Girls.

09

Cities of group B.

65

FIG. 7.-Mediian percentages of pupils under age, of normal age, and over age in 80 cities in 1908 and 1918.

cities combined in 1908, 20.7 per cent of the pupils were retarded ent. The black bars represent arithmetical averages only. For all