course in the same language is implied, with the single exception
that Latin and French are treated as though French were a mere
continuation of the Latin preceding it. Certain other decisions are as
arbitrary. Greek, Roman, and ancient history are considered as in the
same class; so are modern, English, and American history. The general
and the biological sciences are grouped together, but the physical
sciences are distinguished as a separate group. The various commercial
subjects are considered to be of the same kind only when they are the
same subject. All mathematics subjects are regarded as the same kind of
subjects except commercial arithmetic which is classed as a commercial
subject. All the later marks given in what was regarded as the same
kind of subject, are included in the two distributions of grades which
follow.

LATER GRADES IN THE SAME KIND OF SUBJECT, AFTER FAILURE AND
REPETITION OF THE SUBJECT

Total A B C D

2788 Boys 28 308 1441 1011
3489 Girls 33 307 1748 1401

Per Cent of Total .9 9.8 50.8 38.4

This distribution shows a marked tendency for failures in any subject
to be accompanied by further failures (38.4 per cent), not only in the
subjects for which it is a prerequisite but in subjects closely akin to
it. If this tendency to succeeding failures is really dependent upon
thoroughness in the preceding subject, then the repetition of the
subject should offer an opportunity for greater thoroughness and should
prove to be a distinct advantage in this regard. When we compare the
percentage of failures above with that in the following distribution,
we fail to find evidence of such an advantage in repetition. The
continuity of failures by subjects and the ineffectiveness of
repetition are pointed out by T.H. Briggs[42] as found in an
unpublished study by J.H. Riley, showing that after repeating and
passing the subjects of failure, 33 per cent of those who continued the
subject failed again the next semester.

LATER GRADES IN THE SAME KIND OF SUBJECTS, FOLLOWING FAILURE
BUT WITH NO REPETITION

Total A B C D

1269 Boys 5 102 639 523
1191 Girls 8 147 669 367

Per Cent of Total