Life, 1914-04-30 · page 34 of 44
Life — April 30, 1914 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes advertising with social commentary. The main satirical article, "The Binet Test," critiques the application of intelligence testing to schoolchildren while leaving the school system itself unexamined. **The Satire:** The author argues that if the Binet Test—used to identify "defective" children for special classes—were applied to schools themselves, the institutions would fail. The piece attacks the education system for prioritizing rote memorization over systematic thinking, lacking uniform curricula, and being controlled by commercialized interests rather than sound pedagogy. The closing quip "Yes, but—business is business" exposes the hypocrisy: we test children but protect profitable educational structures. **Context:** This reflects early-20th-century debates over eugenics-influenced testing and standardized education. The cartoon "Their First Quarrel" (left) appears to illustrate childhood conflict, supporting the Binet discussion. **Advertising:** Milo cigarettes, Pebbleford bourbon, and Motor Life magazine fill remaining space—typical period advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
If you prefer: Plain Ends ask for the Milo Red. Box Cork Tips in the Milo Yellow Label Box ft. rich whiskey with the flavor ofan old vintage. Old fashioned div ion 7 ripened hy ave only. yf O M, PEBBLEFORD Old kafhioned Quality Kentucky Bourbon Botled in Bond CLEAR SPRING DISTILLING CO, BOURBON, NELSON COUNTY, KY. The Binet Test HE Binet Test is a series of tests imposed upon a child to determine whether that child is defective or not, according to a certain standard. If a child should fail to pass the Binet Test he is then termed a “ Defective”, and is placed under a special teacher, in a defective class, In many States the law requires that public schools shall employ a teacher for defective children when the num- . her of such children is sufficient. In New Jersey, for example, this number has been placed at ten. In any school system in New Jersey where there arc ten defective children, the law requires that a teacher be hired for this pur- pose, one-half of her salary being paid hy the State. Tt seems rather unfortunate that the children should he singled out as the object of the Binet Test, which, if a good thing, should he applied to the school system itself. What would hap- pen to the average school if ‘it were subjected to such a test, upon such counts as might he determined before- hand hy a body of unprejudiced people of ordinary common sense? Tt would he discovered that our school system places a premium upon forgetfulness, upon carelessness in method and upon a general shirking of all systematic work; that it has no uniform system of text-books, and that its teachings of English, history and mathematics is dependent largely upon the dictum of certain commercialized centers who are able to dictate through political agen- cies, and in other ways, as to the kind of instruction the children shall re- ceive. Mistakes in Diagnosis - Roger W. Babson, of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, recently an- nounced the results of an investiga- tion by him to determine the number of mistakes made by medical men in diagnoses He said that he found that in seventeen per cent. of the operations for appendicitis the post- mortem examination showed that the appendix was in perfect condition. Y' ‘S, but—business is business, ‘The National Engagement Ring In Motor Life A RARE PICTURE SENT ON APPROVAL AT YOUR REQUEST Really good pictures are rare Here is one that will radiate an atmosphere of smiles and good cheer in any home. Not an advertisement. Especially reproduced in full process colors on plate-finished paper suitable for framing. Extra Plate 22x28 in, at $100 each Medium — IIx14 in. at 25 each Parcel Post, Prepaid Anywhere. The edition is strictly limited and will not be tepninted. Orders will be filled as received until the supply is exhausted. Addvess Motor Life, New York, N.Y. Motor rie Publishing Co., ter Lie Belg, ‘ork, N.Y. Gentlemen. — 1 enclose hereuith, 10 cody to cote, padage charges fer sending me on epprocal, one (Kertis ot $1 09 c2ch) uit color print entitled “The Notional eacsecst” ‘nang In Motor Life” It ts understood that I am prieileged to return the picture within 10 days after receiting it, farther tr ebligetion and no questions asked. NAME... ADDRESS...