Page 3
Books in Review
By A. J. Edwards Assistant Professor of Education
HOW TO RAISE YOUR CHILD'S I.Q., by David Engler, Ballantine Books, 50 cents.
Scholastic achievement has been demonstrated to be positively related to measures obtained with intelligence tests. The nature of this relationship, though far from perfect, is sufficiently high that schools frequently administer such tests for predictive purposes and for grouping. Since the purpose of intelligence tests is to measure "functional" intelligence, rather than innate capacity, what has been learned is a component with the score. These demonstrated points become a basis of departure by Engler, and, using them, he states three arguments.
To the first contention. Engler concentrates on children who are within a "few points" of the necessary cut-off limit for honors classes or similarly enriched programs. If a child obtains an I.Q. of 118, say, and the cut-off point for such programs is 120, the child is not allowed to participate in the program. Such rigid enforcement of score differences is a violation of measurement principles. The question must be raised, then, as to the occurrence of such violations. The argument rests on the ability of Engler to demonstrate that such enforcement commonly occurs. The assertion is made by him, but no evidence is offered. For what it may be worth, the writer in his brief experience has never known a school system which so rigidly enforced such a principle.
FIRST, SCHOOLS use intelligence quotients largely or solely for grouping purposes. For example, students are allowed to enter special or enriched programs on the basis of obtained I.Q.'s. Second, Engler states, evidence exists to show that the I.Q. can be raised. Finally, parents possess ability to raise a child's I.Q. given the proper tools and techniques.
IN SUPPORT OF HIS second contention, Engler refers to several studies indicating I.Q. change in an upward direction with environmental change. Such studies have limitations because of uncontrolled variables, though many psychologists and educators accept the importance of environment in functioning intelligently.
Friday, October 27. 1961 University Daily Kansan
The final argument, the tools and techniques for raising the I.Q. is the most interesting and least acceptable proposed by Engler. Transfer of training is possible, and the greater the similarity between materials, the more likely will transfer occur. For this reason, some 40 pages of exercises are included in this book, over one-fourth of the total volume. (Correct answers are included.) Engler believes that by practicing on these illustrative items, the child can raise his I.Q. the few critical points to receive a quality education rather than a mediocre one. For the child unfamiliar with standardized test procedures (and the exercises are most like items from group intelligence tests), the practice might provide familiarity with kinds of items used in tests. Whether such practice will "raise" scores obtained on items of different content is doubtful.
THERE IS INFORMATION of a useful nature for the layman in this book. Engler makes a sincere effort to explain the "I.Q." how it is measured, and many of its limitations. There is selectivity in the material he uses as evidence, so that a distinct bias is reflected. In many respects, the book is interestingly written, though to a person trained in the field of measurement there are too many loose statements and much superficial treatment. Such a book may lead to an emotional response rather than an intelligent one on the part of many readers. Since the basic arguments taken by Engler are debatable, the book should not be accepted too seriously.
By Mark Dull
THE BLACK ROSE, by Thomas B. Costain, Perma Books, 75 cents. "The Black Rose" is the story of the life and the loves of Walter of Gurine, a bastard Oxfordian Knight robbed of his birthright by the hands of fate, who seeks a name and a fortune in the mysterious world of Cathay.
Thomas B. Costain has taken this tale of adventure and romance from a legend found in a very few old English histories. He has coupled this legend with the lives of three remarkable men of the thirteenth century—Edward the First, the great English king who was called the Lawgiver; Bayan of the Hundred Eyes, the Mongolian General who captured China for Kubla Khan and Roger Bacon, a friar with a scientific bent.
MUCH CAN BE SAID FOR COSTAIN'S TREATMENT of the historical background that fills most of this costume novel. The capable historian's descriptions of the life and customs of the people of England, Greece, and the Orient are fascinating and extensive. In historical detail and local color the book is remarkable.
Unfortunately the plot is not capable of matching the magnificence of the historical build-up. The pure heart of this bastard son of the Earl of Lessford enables him to coup on countless evil villains and to win the love of a fair maiden despite fate's cruelest attempts to separate the lovers.
MEANWHILE WALTER FIGHTS A PRIVATE BATTLE within himself as an enlightened half-noble who has great sympathy with the common man. He wins the favor of the leaders from the far ends of the Earth, while the scales of justice sway from one pole to the other. His grasping mind learns the secrets of the East and the reader is lead to believe young Walter will bring the western world out of the Middle Ages and into the Industrial Revolution within his lifetime. The result is a little incredible.
It cannot compare with Costain's tale of Basil, the artisan who fashioned "The Silver Chalice," or his story of Jacques Couer, "The Moneyman" of Charles VII of France. A costume novel such as this can be popularly enjoyable for the high school to rocking-chair reader. However, it is not strongly recommended for the more discriminating reader.
From the Podium
I have lately had the opportunity of studying the reaction of the United Nations Assembly to the persistent use of the platform of the United Nations by the Russians and the Communist bloc to advance their own purposes in the cold war. There is hardly a delegation which does not detest Russian policies: the suppression of the independence of Hungary and East Germany, their attitude on nuclear tests, their censorship of all news circulating within the Soviet Union, their attitude to the inspection of armaments.
But there are far too few in the United Nations Assembly who stand up and back on their conviction by speech or vote. On the contrary, a sort of complex has assailed the Assembly which compels them to vent their feelings on the democracies rather than on the Communist powers.
SPEECH AFTER SPEECH I have listened to while in New York this year, were glaring examples of the double standard which is applied. Speeches and resolutions are directed against us, the United Kingdom as colonialists. They know perfectly well, particularly the Afro-Asian countries, that we have given independence to six hundred million people in the last few years, and that that process continues rapidly. Yet, resolution after resolution is framed and passed condemning the United Kingdom as colonialist and there is never a protest against the Russian conduct of their own empire, which consists of one occupied country after another.
The same is true of self-determination. That is pursued so far as the Africans and the Asians are concerned, with a sort of holy fervor; but when it comes to self-determination for the Eastern Europeans, that is said to be something rather different. On nuclear tests I heard speaker after speaker equating the attitude of the Soviet Union with that of the United States of America, making no allowance for the fact that it was the Soviet Union who broke the moratorium and tested in the atmosphere. But the performances of the Soviet Union and the United States were put by these speeches on the same level...
I think it is necessary constantly to call attention to this inability of the countries in the Assembly of the United Nations or a great many of them to apply principles with impartiality.
THIS IS NOT A MATTER, on our part, of injured pride or of feeling that there is ingratitude for what we have done. We have all lived long enough to know there is no gratitude in international politics. But the democracies are the backbone of the United Nations. The democracies are the people who observe and support the rules of the Charter. And we cannot remain silent and be made victims of attacks by people who know they are unfair but deliver them, and know they can deliver them safely, because they know we are nice tolerant people. We cannot allow—and I have no intention ever to allow—the case of the democracies to go by default, because if we do that in the Assembly of the United Nations any longer, the political standing of this country as a liberalizing influence in the world will be fatally impaired. If that were to happen it would do great damage, not only to the United Kingdom, but to the small nations, particularly the Afro-Asian nations themselves. It would deal a mortal blow to their hopes of a just and free world, and would imperil the organization which would give them assistance.
(From a speech by the Earl of Home, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, before the House of Lords.)
The thing generally raised on city land is taxes.—Charles Dudley Warner
Short Ones
Every man is the center of a circle, whose fatal circumference he cannot pass.-John James Ingalls
By Calder M. Pickett Professor of Journalism
WATER OF LIFE, by Henry Morton Robinson. Cardinal, 95 cents. This is one of those big old epics that attempts to tell the story of America as it ranges over three or four family generations. Like "Raintree County," if you remember that one. It is a curious intermixing of styles and approaches. Henry Morton Robinson tries a little of everything here, and the total result is not successful.
IT IS BEST WHEN IT TALKS about the "water of life" — whiskey. The Woodhulls are a whiskey-making family in Indiana; their bottles have the "Old Landmark" label on them. Anson Woodhull is a man of integrity; he also is a man who to the author is greater than life size. An incredible guy, that is, big and handsome and smart and well read and so dynamic that he sweeps a Brattle Street daughter of a Harvard professor off her feet and away she goes to become a farmer's wife in faraway Indiana.
Lots of stuff like that. Robinson, like practically everybody else writing today, gives us some visual scenes in the bedroom—and elsewhere. He gives us an amoral beating to death of the villain (he was a bad one, but was he that bad?) which is in the best tradition of Mickey Spillane.
THE CHAPTERS ABOUT WHISKEY MAKING are best, and there is a fine section describing a hearing in Washington just before the 18th amendment went into effect. There is an earlier episode in which Anson Woodhull testifies on whiskey adulteration in the days when the Pure Food and Drug Act was first being administered. This is of considerable interest, and though Robinson stacks the cards in favor of the straight whiskey interests as against the blended boys, the theme of integrity in business is firmly put before the reader.
Tickets at Auditorium Box Office Advance $2.00; At the Door $2.50
You're Always Welcome
at
The Old Mission Inn 1904 Mass.
Take a Break . . .
Relax with Friends Enjoy Good Food,
Your Favorite Beverages and Friendly Service