BACKWARD CHILDREN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5009, 4 August 1926, Page 3

BACKWARD CHILDREN.

MUCH MORE RESEARCH NEEDED.

WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.

Discussing the. problem of 'retardation, the annual report of the Education Department states that it is receiving more thoughtful consideration than ever before; Some interesting investigations, have been made along this line, but much more research work will have to be done bdfore any definite conclusions, can be. arrived at. In the meantime the’ Department is endeavouring to meet the situation in two, ways—(l) reducing the size of the classes, and (2) establishing special classes for backward children. 'Several classes for backward children have bee.n established in each of the four centreSj, .as well as in some of the smaller towns, the total number being fifteen. Othe.re are in process, of e.sta.blislhme.nt. The problem elf the backward child in the country districts! is a. difficult one that has yet to be face.d. Those classes already established have more than justified their existence. By the 'removal of discouraging jmd discouraged pupils teachers have been relieved of a bnrdbin, while the pupils themselves have, been given a new outlook on life. The relief from strain has changed sullen and badtempered pupils intel happy children. Not more than sixteen pupils are enrolled in each class, so that individual attention can be given to each pupil. The, time-table is, roughly speaking, divided into three equal parts, onethird off the time being given to academic subjects, one-third to handicrafts, and one-third to physical instruction. The parents of the children h'aye in many cases expressed their gratification for the improvement noticeable in z -their children. This improvement is sometimes less scholastic than personal. The child who was struggling along ;at the foot of a class, daily growing moire conscious! of his inferiority, suddenly finds himself with no vastly superior intellects to compete against. He -progresses at his. own rate, not at the rate of a class,, and his failures are. no. longer constantly before him. The changed atmosphere has a stimulating effect and causes a pleasing development of the personaltiy.