Chapter I: Preface

Grateful acknowledgment is due the principals of each of the high schools whose records are included in this study, for the courteous and helpful attitude which they and their assistants manifested in the work of securing the data. Thanks are due Dr. John S. Tildsley for his generous permission to consult the records in each or any of the New York City high schools. But the fullest appreciation is felt and acknowledged for the ready criticism and encouragement received from Professor Thomas H. Briggs and Professor George D. Strayer at each stage from the inception to the completion of this study.

F.P.O.

CONTENTS

PAGE
I.--THE GENERAL INTRODUCTION OF THE SUBJECT

1. The Relevance of This Study 1

2. The Meaning of Failure in This Study 3

3. Scope and Content of the Field Covered 4

4. Sources of the Data Employed 6

5. Selection and Reliability of These Sources 8

6. Summary of Chapter, and References 11

II.--HOW EXTENSIVE ARE THE FAILURES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS?

1. A Distribution of All Entrants in Reference to Failure 12

2. The Later Distribution of the Pupils by Semesters 14

3. The Distribution of the Failures--by Ages and by Semesters 14

4. Distribution of the Failures by Subjects 19

5. The Pupils Dropping Out--Time and Age 24

6. Summary of Chapter, and References 27

III.--WHAT BASIS IS DISCOVERABLE FOR A PROGNOSIS OF THE OCCURRENCE
OR THE NUMBER OF FAILURES?

1. Some Possible Factors--Attendance, Mental and Physical
Defects, Size of Classes 29

2. Employment of the School Entering Age for the Purpose
of Prognosis 31

3. The Percentage of Failure at Each Age on the Possibility
of Failures for That Age 36

4. The Initial Record in High School 37

5. Prognosis of Failure by Subject Selection 39

6. The Time Period and the Number of Failures 40

7. Similarity of Facts for Boys and Girls 45

8. Summary of Chapter, and References 45

IV.--HOW MUCH IS GRADUATION OR THE PERSISTENCE IN SCHOOL CONDITIONED
BY THE OCCURRENCE OR BY THE NUMBER OF FAILURES?

1. Comparison of the Failing and the Non-failing Groups
in Reference to Graduation and Persistence 48

2. The Number of Failures and the Years Required to Graduate 49

3. The Number of Failures and the Semesters of Dropping
Out, for Non-graduates 51

4. The Percentages That the Non-graduate Groups Form of
the Pupils Who Have Each Successively Higher Number
of Failures 55

5. Time Extension for the Failing Graduates 56

6. Summary of Chapter, and References 57

V.--ARE THE SCHOOL AGENCIES EMPLOYED IN REMEDYING THE FAILURES
ADEQUATE FOR THE PURPOSE?

1. Repetition as a Remedy for Failures 60
a. Size of Schedule and Results of Repeating.
b. Later Grades in the Same Kind of Subjects,
Following Repetition and Without it.
c. The Grades in Repeated Subjects and in New Work.
d. The Number and Results of Identical Repetitions.

2. Discontinuance of the Subject or Course, and the
Substitution of Others 68

3. The Employment of School Examinations 69

4. The Service Rendered by the Regents' Examinations in
New York 70

5. Continuation of Subjects Without Repetition or Examination 73

6. Summary of Chapter, and References 74

VI.--DO THE FAILURES REPRESENT A LACK OF CAPABILITY OR OF
FITNESS FOR HIGH SCHOOL WORK ON THE PART OF THOSE PUPILS?

1. Some Are Evidently Misfits 76

2. Most of the Failing Pupils Lack Neither Ability nor
Earnestness 77

3. The School Emphasis and the School Failures Are Both
Culminative in Particular School Subjects 81

4. An Indictment Against the Subject-Matter and the Teaching
Ends as Factors in Producing Failures 83

5. Summary of Chapter, and References 85

VII.--WHAT TREATMENT IS SUGGESTED BY THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE FACTS
OF FAILURE?

1. Organization and Adaptation in Recognition of the
Individual Differences in Abilities and Interests 87

2. Faculty Student Advisers from the Time of Entrance 89

3. Greater Flexibility and Differentiation Required 90

4. Provision for the Direction of the Pupils' Study 92

5. A Greater Recognition and Exposition of the Facts as
Revealed by Accurate and Complete School Records 94

6. Summary of Chapter, and References 96

A STUDY OF THE SCHOOL RECORDS OF THE PUPILS FAILING IN ACADEMIC OR COMMERCIAL HIGH SCHOOL SUBJECTS