SCHOOL GRADES OF MORE VALUE THAN BOARD EXAMS

"That the grades of a student's work in school are 50 per cent more reliable as a criterion of his success in college than his marks on the college entrance board examinations has been shown by a careful study of the college board records," said Dr. O. W. Caldwell in an interview recently granted to the CRIMSON. Dr. Caldwell is director of the Lincoln School of Teachers' College, and Professor of Education at Columbia.

"The new plan examinations, however, have proved themselves almost equally reliable with the general school records in the prediction of a boys college success. These facts seem to indicate that the certificate and new plan methods of getting into college are superior to the old plan college boards. The latter were the best thing that had been devised up until these innovations, but have now outlived their efficiency.

School and College Records Tally

"It is also an interesting fact that preparatory school records correspond more nearly with college records than those of the average high schools, although the high school students often attain the higher standing in college.

"This is probably due to the unwieldy size of most high schools, and to the fact that the preparatory school courses are more like those in colleges. It is also worthy of note that the records are more reliable in schools where intelligence tests are included in determining the final marks."

Dr. Caldwell then turned to a discussion of student control in colleges and schools.

"I think we are on the verge of a change on the side of student government in colleges. Within the next decade every major issue will be discussed and partly decided by the students themselves.

"They must be very careful, however, not to carry the new system to an extreme and make the disastrous experiment of trying to get along without the experienced advice of the Faculty.

"Any attempts which have been made to put the control of an educational institution entirely in the hands of its students have been failures. The instructors are the only ones who have a chance to grow with the school or college and thus have a broad understanding of its problems."