BACKWARD CHILDREN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 249, 21 October 1935, Page 6

BACKWARD CHILDREN.

It is very gratifying to note the amount of interest that lias been taken by correspondents to the "Star" in the cause of the backward child, and hope they as well as others may. keep this very vital subject before them. It is hoped that we will be able to have our backward ■children properly cared for and. given suitable treatment that conforms with the developments made in science to-day for that particular class of. child. Most children of the retardate type are glandular cases, and treatment instituted early enough, properly controlled and continued over a sufficient length of time, performs miracles for them. But treatment and prevention are two very different things. The adult who produces one backward child usually produces others: but suitable treatment in many eases would prevent this. This means a certain control over the parents as well as complete control over the children. I know of families of mild, average and severe cases of backward children, very few of them registered as such, but all two or more in number. One family consists of five. Unfortunately in this ease, the, people are poor, but there is every evidence! that there will T>e an increase in the number. We see the beginnings of backwardness in the child usually after he has been to school for ja time and does not come up to the standard of his classmates; then the parent usually puts it off in the beet manner possible and hopes—hopes a great deal—that things will come right. Mild, average and severe cases of retardate children are going to become themselves parents and so reproduce their stigma. It must be apparent to all the great need to get this condition of the children under control, and the first step is a retardate home in Auckland. P. M. MEULI.