THE YOUNG MIND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 29 August 1907, Page 4

THE YOUNG MIND.

SUITABLE EDUCATION. SOME IMPOETANT COMMENTS. The Minister of Education, in his report, submitted to Parliament to-day, makes the following interesting remarks on an important subject:—''The Govern ment has had under consideration the question of giving suitable education to those young persons who, not being imbecile, are, by reason of lack ol' intelli gence, incapable of receiving proper benefit from the instruction in the public schools, but are not incapable, by reason of such deficiency, of receiving benefit from instruction in schools specially set apart and equipped to meet their needs. Provision Ims already been made for tlie education of the deaf and blind, and it is equally important that attention should be given to those that are mentally weak At present numfors of these children, who under favourable conditions could be trained at least to maintain themselves, have no other prospect than to be a lifelong burden upon their peopic or upon charitable aid. The experience of other countries shows that much can be done by special education to develop children of this class, to teach them to earn their livelihood either out in the world or, in the case of those whose deficiencies are rather more pronounced, to maintain themselves under supervision without cost to the State or to their friends, as the case may b: 1 . To obtain thoroughly good results from such training, healthy situation for the institution are needed, where the inmates can lead a free outdoor life and at the same time receive the manual instruction and agricultural training which must bo the chief means of awaking and stimulating their mental faculties. The Government has now decided to establish an institution of this kind for boys, and with this end in view to acquire the house and grounds of the Otekaike Estate, near Duntroon, in North Otago, at a cost of about £7OOO. It is considered that the conditions there are most suitable for this work, aud the existing buildings can be ipade, with very little altering, to accommodate some fifty boys and the staff. The matter of providing a similar institution for girls is also engaging the attention of Hie Government."