_Germaine G----_, age ten years (three years behind); very short-sighted. It was only last year that it was noticed that this defect of vision was keeping the child from learning to read. Since spectacles were provided she has made rapid progress. _Marguerite L----_, age ten years (two years behind). This child has some affection of the eyes; she has been operated on several times. Without pretending to give a final opinion on the above cases, one may believe that the retardation is due to the ailment or to irregular attendance. If it were necessary, one might make further inquiries at the schools previously attended by the child, or find out at the present school the exact number of days of absence. In other cases it seems clear that it is the intelligence of the child that is at fault. For example-- _Jeanne L----_, age ten years (two years behind); attends school regularly; stupid and lazy. _Hortense G----_ (two years behind); irritable temper; very backward in arithmetic and spelling; intelligence mediocre. _Marie R----_ (two years behind); intelligence very mediocre; inattentive; progress very slow. _Blanche B----_ (three years behind); intelligence much below the average; has some slight aptitude for sewing and arithmetic, but very backward otherwise; incapable of giving a reply indicative of good sense and reflection. _Jeanne B----_ (two years behind); intelligence decidedly mediocre; none of her answers particularly sensible. When the inspector has read these notes and formed an opinion on the children, and obtained as far as necessary additional information about their school attendance,[7] etc., he will make his first choice. He will decide which children are to be examined, and will have them brought to him. Be it understood, then, that the child must now be presented, and that it is by questioning him that the inspector will form an opinion of his mental level. This examination is important. The inspector must observe the child, induce him to talk, watch the play of his features. In this way he receives a living impression which rarely deceives an experienced eye. He will even chat with him a little about something--for example, the occupation of his parents.... After these preliminaries, the examination proper begins. It includes the estimation of the degree of instruction and the degree of intelligence. Tests of Instruction.