me a social problem if not properly dealt with in
childhood; the psychopathic and mentally maladjusted child, who later in
life may develop mental disease; the child manifesting conduct disorders
which may be the beginning of a delinquent or criminal career; the
retarded child; the epileptic; the child with speech-defect or with some
physical disability; the child with gross personality difficulties; the
exceptionally brilliant child--all present problems that demand
attention during the child's school life. Such children are given a
thorough physical examination, a careful psychiatric study, and an
individual psychological examination, including a variety of
psychological tests, not only to determine the child's intelligence
rating, but, in so far as possible, his special abilities and
disabilities. A social study is made of the child's home, school, and
other environments to determine what factors may have unfavourably
influenced the development of the child, and what forces may be utilized
in securing the child's adjustments. The results of all these studies
are given to the school authorities with recommendations relative to the
needed adjustments."

In New Zealand there is need of increased facilities for the study of
the individual child, and the services of psychological experts should
be available in order to group children according to their mental
equipment and special requirements. Only those fully qualified to
estimate accurately all the evidence available are fitted to decide the
destiny of children.

Herein lies the danger of relying exclusively upon the use of mental
tests.

_Mental tests_ are of definite value in enabling the observer to arrive
at a conclusion regarding the general mental development of the subject,
or to investigate some particular psychological function. A too
exclusive dependence upon the result of the application of these tests,
especially by a layman, would invariably lead to error. A comprehensive
survey is necessary, taking into consideration such factors as family
history, environment, physical condition, behaviour, temperament, &c.
The observation, possibly for a considerable period of time, of an
expert psychiatrist or psychologist may be necessary in order to arrive
at an accurate estimate of the mental ability of the subject.

In this regard we quote from Tredgold, "Mental Deficiency": "There are,
however, very many exceptions, particularly when we are dealing with the
m