BACKWARD CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 5

BACKWARD CHILDREN

PROBLEM OF EDUCATION

PLEA FOR A BETTER SYSTEM

"The education of children of a high level of intelligence, of Bound health, anil of iiood home surroundings presents few difficulties to the teacher as compared with the education of a fairly large section who begin life heavily handicapped, and it is for these weaklings I would claim a better place in our system," remarked Miss E. A. Chaplin,. Jj.A., in the course of her presidential address to the annual meeting, of the New Zealand Women Teachers' Association yesterday. "We cannot shut our eyes to their existence, and. it is not a sane, policy that would relegate them tu the scrapheap. ihe imbecile children and those classed' as feeble-minded are provided for to some extent in Government institutions. But there is another large group who may be classed as sub-normal, who muddlo along iu our schools from day to. day, deriving very little benefit, from the instruotion given. Tho classes, particularly in city schools, are too largo to allow of these children receiving sufficient individual attention. Their mental powers are of slow development, and if sufficient time and caro wore taken, many of thorn would reach the level of the average child. Some of them are L'ifted with manual dexterity above the normal, and if our system would allow them to be grouped from about the age of nine—or even younger—into small classes under special teachers, incalculable good would be done. ■ As things arc. thev are the dunces of their class, and find school a very unkindly place. The worst feature, however, is the result of this policy on the children, for there is nothing so paralysing in its effect on the spirit of the child as the consciousness of an inferiority which repeated efforts on . his cart fail to remove. ■ Blind Alley Occupations. ; "The last report on primary education recorded that in 1807, 27G1 boys and 2293 girls left school having reached the age of fourteen without passing Standard Vi. Wo know that a largo proportion of thesa children did not get beyond Standard 111. I have been enabled to obtain records of the children of one city school. Theso left during 191S without passing Standard IV. and 50 per cent, of the number are already accounted for as (a) unemployable—spending much time on the streets j (bl under police surveillance; (c) in refuge homes, and on training farms. This is not an. unhsual type of school, but one of many concerning whose sub-normal scholars similar .records could be obtained at intervals. Our system provides for children of good or average mental equipment, but it tails to recognise in a • practical way the existence of about 'misfits' who annually wander • into blind-alley occupations or qualify for industrial schools. In the light of information that is continually being disseminated by social workers, teachers and others, it is a matter of deep concern that such waste should go on year after vear. «£ccoiistruction plans are urgently needed here, and I offer no'apology for bringing forward again the claims of these children. . For years the best educational authorities have agreed on this uueslinn. Our own association and the Krlucational Institute have repeatedly resolved tli.it a remedy must he found; but without practical result." . Free Attention as a Right. Miss Chaplin added that the testimony of l)r. ((. E. Shutdeworth before tho British Medical Association showed that 20 ner cent, of the children classed as "mentally backward" owed their weakness directly or indirectly to physical causes. 'Hie establishment of special classes and open air schools had done much ill Endand to remedy I lie evil. "We cannot praise too highly the good work being done in our own schools h.v the medical inspectors and school nurses," remarked Miss Chaplin. "The preventive measures taken in consequence of their advice, prove, of the utmost value. Our only hope is that their work may bj rnado more extensive, and that free medical and den:nl attention may bo granted as a right to every child who needs itThere still remains, however, a large class who.-e mental backwardness is not attributable to remediable physical causes, and for these help should be forthcoming, nnrticulnrlv in view of our c .nalional needs If we are to be 'efficient' in tho widest use of (lie term, opportunities must lie r.fi'urded every child In develop his gilts to the very best advantage." There were three remits on the ord n r paper dealing with the question of the education of sub-no-mal children, lr.it after n brief .discussion a resolution i;i ■ th-> following form was carried.:— "That in every town should he a special e!:i?s with, specially trained U-aoli-Vrs for children .of retarded mental development. and that all such children should lie drafted to the-"o claspos as soon .•is the ne«?.«iiv is recognised."