Progressive Educators

Last week the Progressive Education Association held its 20th annual convention in Manhattan, discussed everything from the mischievousness of babies to New York's forthcoming World's Fair. Brightest remarks heard by the 2,500 conventiongoers:

P:University of Toronto's thin-faced, reticent Dr. William Emet Blatz, who has charge of the Dionne Quintuplets' education, reported his charges were of average intelligence. Their mental growth was retarded by their premature birth, but they are now advancing more rapidly than normal children in everything except language (they are learning both French and English). Dr. Blatz expects that in a year or two their I. Q.'s will be between 95 and 105. He is studying them to seek new light on the "timeworn problem of whether heredity or environment is most important in the development of personality." Most aggressive, most disobedient and greatest social lion among the five is Annette. Most popular is Yvonne who receives more attention from the others than she seeks. Most socially balanced is Marie. When one of the quins is naughty most effective punishment is isolation from the others.

P:Vigorously discussed was the new yearbook of the John Dewey Society, Educational Freedom and Democracy, written by a commission of nine progressive educators. The yearbook denounced meddling with teachers' freedom, cited patriotic groups, Government officials, a contract one teacher had to sign to get a job paying $637.50 a year in North Carolina: "I promise to take a vital interest in all phases of Sunday-school work. ... I promise to abstain from all dancing, immodest dressing and other conduct unbecoming a teacher and a lady. I promise not to go out with any young man except in so far as it may be necessary to stimulate Sunday-school work. I promise not to fall in love, to become engaged or secretly married "

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