An Analysis of the Proficiency and Competency of a Fourth Grade Class

The Observation School conducted by the University of Pennsylvania during its summer session is regarded not as a model but as a typical elementary school in which the pupils are representative of the typical school group. These pupils are recruited from the Philadelphia schools and accepted in the order of their application until the grades are filled. A teacher of the fourth grade in this school should expect to demonstrate methods in group teaching to pupils having fourth grade competency and at least advanced third grade proficiency. This means pupils having the ability to do the work of the fourth grade and the education which should precede fourth grade work. At the close of the first week of the summer session the teacher of this fourth grade felt like the old woman who lived in a shoe and had so many children that she did not know what to do. Group teaching seemed to be impossible. There seemed to be as many individual problems in discipline and teaching as there were pupils enrolled. The problems which confronted the teacher of this grade are probably quite similar to those experienced by the majority of teachers in our schools. This leads the writer to believe that a number of teachers may be interested in seeing how the problem was analyzed to determine the proficiency and competency of the class in order to readjust the course of study to fit group and individual needs. This paper treats only of the results of the diagnosis. No discussion of remedial treatment is attempted. A preliminary survey of the class showed that the thirty pupils