BOYS OF DULL INTELLECT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1331, 8 January 1912, Page 4

BOYS OF DULL INTELLECT.

SCHOOL ON ITS TRIAL. Between CO and TO boys, backward in intellect but capable of being trained to do useful self-supporting iwork, arc under the cave of the Education Department in the Otekaiko School. Mr. I<\ ij. l'ope, one of tho Department's inspectors, was asked in Christchurch for his opinion upon the results of tho institution, which is an experiment in New Zealand. He replied that it had not been • established long enough for one to ho ablo to form a conclusion as to the amount of good that, was resulting; it was clear, however, that a great proportion of tho inmates would never be able to support themselves outside, though the work they did in the institution might keep them. There they were taught such work as basket-making and mat-making. But many of the hoys sent there developed mentally and physically in a way which the person who' did not know would have difficulty in believing. At present only boys 'wero dealt with', but plans for further buildings and tho enlargement of tho scheme wero in hand, and it was likely that a similar institution for girls; also at Otekaiko, would bo opened in the near future. Tho proposal was under consideration by tho Department.