THE  VESTIBULE  SCHOOL

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lookout  for  individuals  with  that  “little  more”,  that
extra  faculty  of  being  able  to  assume  responsibility  and
handle  problems  which  have  not  been  explained  to  them
from  A  to  Z  beforehand.  In  other  words,  they  are  looking
for  assistants  who  can  think  for  themselves.  This  quality
is  none  too  common.  Mental  tests  can  usually  give  indications ­
  of  its  presence,  but  the  vestibule  school  can  follow
up  these  indications  and  determine  to  just  what  extent
the  desired  ability  exists.
The  vestibule  school  may  therefore  be  truly  regarded  as
a  laboratory  in  which  employees  are  tested  and  trained
under  controlled  conditions.  All  work  should  be  done  as
nearly  as  possible  in  quantities  that  can  be  measured  and
by  methods  that  have  been  standardized.  Where  the
nature  of  the  work  makes  this  impracticable,  actual  tests
from  time  to  time  may  be  used  as  standards.  For  example, ­
  five  or  ten  clerks  may  be  doing  various  kinds  of  counting-machine ­
  work.  On  the  basis  of  their  performance  in
their  work,  therefore,  they  can  not  be  compared.  However, ­
  if  they  are  using  the  same  type  of  machine,  a  periodic
test  can  be  given  to  the  entire  group  to  determine  what
progress  its  members  are  making  in  speed  and  accuracy.
Periodic  tests  of  this  kind  can  be  given  to  typists,  filing
clerks,  ledger  clerks,  and  other  groups.  By  means  of  such
tests  a  very  complete  control  can  be  exercised,  a  control
which  will  make  it  possible  not  only  to  watch  the  progress
of  individuals  with  reference  to  themselves  but  also  the
progress  of  individuals  with  reference  to  the  progress  of
others  in  the  same  group.  Such  a  control  also  makes  it
possible  to  promote  students  on  the  basis  of  merit  rather
than  on  the  basis  of  seniority.  Certain  standards  can  be
set  in  various  kinds  of  work,  and  the  student  who  first
attains  those  standards  will  be  eligible  for  the  first  position