THE VESTIBULE SCHOOL 
279 
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 indi 
cations 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 exam 
ple, five or ten clerks may be doing various kinds of count 
ing-machine work. On the basis of their performance in 
their work, therefore, they can not be compared. How 
ever, 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