LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 268, 8 August 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE TEACHING OF DEFECTIVE CHILDREN

Sir,—With so muck of world tragedy Wove the public at present it might 6eem unwise to try to arouse interest in smaller matters. Education, however, is always a subject of importance. May I be permitted to say. a few words on one part of education—the treatment of mentally defective children? The defective child will be with .us always, and much more in the future' than in the past. Why, then, not have a proper system of education for thin type of child? .Now, there is one fact known to all psychologists and educationists—it is quite impossible to teach such children except individually. Class teaching iin kiny real s&nse is impossible. Therefore Norwegian legislation forbids that any teacher shall have more than ten "backward children at a time. In this country there seems to be no such law. One teacher, I am informed, harf to teach thirty at a time; others nearly as many. , , Now it is not asked that each teacher should have only ten pupils, but merely that she should have if she desires only ten at a time. . Many such children, seemingly hopeless, are capable of becoming useful and happy members of society, and they are j entitled to the same opportunities for self-development as others.—l am, etc., . MONTESS I " 1 "