Deficient Children.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 June 1910, Page 4

Deficient Children.

Last Tuesday (the Sydenham Observer reports) a sub-committee set up by the Sydenham School Committee met Messrs G. Laurenson, H. G. Ell, T. H. Davey and G. Whittv, members of the Houst of Representatives, and discussed various matters affecting education in general and tlio local school in particular. The Sydenham School was represented by Messrs G. It. Whiting, who presided, W. H. Joyce and ,T. B. Mayne (headmaster). " The priiv eipal question discussed was that of making provision for the care of deficient children.

The matter was mentioned by Mr Laurenson, who asked if Mr Maylie could give hiiin any information as to the probable number of deficient children in the district, and whether lie thought the was as grave as might he imagined from current reports. Mr Mayne stated that he had been one of the first to move in the matter, having written to tlio Education Board and to all the school committees in the district. From the replies he had received lie gathered tint there were at least seven tyeiojht deficient children in North Canterbury. Shortly after lie had commenced his investigations he had been taken ill, amd had been forced to discontinue them.

Mr Mayne said that whiat was meant by a deficient child was one that was "incapable of bouefitilnig by the ordinary school teaching." Tn America it had been found cheaper to give such children special training.

Mr Ell remarked that .the London School .Board had for a long time been < awake to the gravity of the positions and about ten years ago liadl had seven special schools set aside for such eases. He would presume that -the seventy-eight were only those that were totally unfit, and that that .number did 'not include any but the worst cases.

Mr Laurenson said that even if tlio number were as low as tliiat given, it was still sufficient to warrant the establishment of a special school aind to give thorn grounds for urging such a project upon the Government.

Tn reply to a question, Mr Mayne said that when the letters on the subject were _ sent rouind he returned _ only eight deficient pupils from his own school, which had an average attendance of over a thousand. A committeeman, going round the school and inquiring from each teacher, had learnt that tihere were ten children that were certainly deficient, and two more that might possibly be classed' as deficient.

Mr Davev said that tihe re were now no children in tho moratal hospitals of the dominion. Those thiat had been takein, in such places had. been sent to Oteka.ike, near Oamaru. There was a similar institution near Nelson.

Mr_ Witty said that these two institutions were oinly for very deficient children. Tliey were admitted On a doctor's certificate, and, ho believed, kept at the expense of the State.

Mr Ell remarked that the institution at Otdhaike was already full. He knew of a case in his owm district of ia boy who was awaiting n. vacancy so that he might bo admitted.

•Tt was finally agreed that Mr Mavn'e should; collect n'n,formation on tihe subject, and should semd copies tof his statements lowing the position to each of the imeonibers ■nresent. who would wait, as a united dieputation, upon the Minister, aitud would lay the whole mn/tter before hini,