Classic Audiobook Collection The Intelligence of School Children by Lewis Terman ~ Full Audiobook [science]
Feb 27, 2026
A look at early large-scale efforts to measure children's mental abilities and how tests were built and interpreted. Stories of wide IQ variation in kindergarten and first grade and how class composition affects teacher judgment. Longitudinal studies tracking gifted and lagging children and debates over labels, heredity, and schooling responses.
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Retardation Usually Stems From Low Mental Ability
- Among first-grade retarded pupils, 93.9% had low mental levels; only 2 of 33 had normal mental ability.
- Terman concludes low intellect, not attendance or language, is the chief cause of retardation in these classes.
Oldest Pupils Tend To Be The Dullest
- In fifth grade, pupils of low IQ are often oldest chronologically, while high-IQ pupils are youngest, showing promotion by age.
- Terman stresses that apparent over-age often reflects low mental development, reversing common assumptions about retardation.
Start Educational And Vocational Guidance Early
- Begin vocational and educational guidance early: measure ability by first grade and refine by 5th–6th years for course planning.
- Use IQ to set realistic vocational routes rather than waiting until school exit.
