ABILITY VARIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 783, 2 October 1929, Page 16

ABILITY VARIES

CHILDREN ARE SMARTER IN WINTER TIME

HEIGHT REACHED IN JULY Children show more ability from the beginning of autumn until July. Then their ability drops until August, when it remains at a level until the following autumn again. This was stated by Dr. A. B. Fitt, Professor of Education at the Uni-! versity College, during an address on j “The Scientific Attitude Toward Edu- j cation,” at a meeting of the Auckland Educational Society last evening. Education was becoming, and should become, more of a science, said Dr. Fitt, who explained “seasonal rhythm” in the ability of a child with the aid of a graph, showing the rise and fall during the months .from February to December. The facts had been proved by experiments with groups of children, he said. Instability set in in July and the child's ability trailed off. Another line showed the fluctuation in suicidal tendency owing to season. The incidence was at normal level until July, when, in the same way, instability set in and a marked rise was shown. Though it had been suggested byMr. H. S. W. King, president of the New Zealand Technical Association, that the school year should end in August, as farmers could take more boys on the land at that time, Dr. Fitt said science pointed to July being the proper time, and there would he little difference from an economic standpoint. BOOKS CHANGED FOR PERIOD In America a scientific method was adopted of tentatively changing the books for a period. Then the books were recalled, or done away with, according to the opinions of teachers. Though the New Zealand Education Department might not have sufficient funds to carry out this scheme, it might be tried in a small way with typewritten sheets instead of the more expensive text-books. Care was required in the treatment of left-handed writers at school, said Dr. Fitt. Right-handed writing was adopted because it was the dominant type, and the left-handed pupil was merely a "recessive.” By careful handling the pupil would transfer much of the work of his left hand to his right. Dr. E. P. Neale, who spoke at the conclusion of Dr. Fitt’s address, said in connection with the closing of the school year in July that though it might be of scientific advantage to do so, it did not fit in with economic conditions. It was true that the dairy farmers of the North required boys in August, but other farmers such as wheatgrowers did not show increased activity until later. Under the circumstances it would not be of advantage for schools throughout the Dominion to close in July-.