ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book attempts to show that the problems of selection arise primarily from historical, administrative, political and social causes. Thus it is shortsighted to suppose that they could be solved merely by improving the various selection techniques, or abolishing intelligence tests, or the like. The book surveys the administrative aspects of current selection, the procedures actually employed by the numerous Local Authorities, and their wide variations from one area to another. It discusses the broader sociological and psychological issues involved in the organization of secondary education. The book gives a fair picture of the bad effects of selection on the mental health and personality development of children and on junior-school teaching, while also pointing out the exaggerations that often receive undue publicity. An historical survey of investigations of the marking of English essays brings out the great variations between markers.
