SPECIAL-CLASS .PUPILS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27403, 16 July 1954, Page 10

SPECIAL-CLASS .PUPILS

ASSISTANCE AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL In the general school population there is a small group of children who learn slowly and have difficulty in keeping pace with their fellows. With their parents’ consent, they can be transferred to special classes, attached to some schools in the cities and larger towns, where a programme of work suited to their development is provided. In 1951, the conference of the Women Teachers’ Association recommended to the Minister of Social Welfare (Mrs G. H. Ross) that pupils leaving special classes, especially those with problems of adjustment, should receive some unobtrusive supervision and assistance. Mrs Ross suggested the formation of voluntary groups of helpers. This is the origin of »the Christchurch Special Class After-care Committee.

It is a year since this group, including educationists, psychologists, vocational guidance officers, social welfare workers, physical welfare specialists, and representatives of other organisations, was established. It has a panel of expert advisers. Immediately after the group was formed, a survey was started of the I progress of former pupils of special I classes. This work has not yet been completed, but preliminary returns suggest a tendency for these young people to become more seriously maladjusted personally after leaving school. A time lag has been noticed between their leaving school and seeking vocational guidance. As a result, many were dismissed from self-placed jobs and suffered serious discouragement. The committee has already ensured that, before leaving special classes, each pupil will now have the opportunity for psychological re-testing, a vocational guidance interview, and offers of other help in settling in the community. The survey showed also that a good number of special-class pupils are doing well at work, but the committee will continue to watch their interests. This review of months of painstaking investigation was given this week in the first annual report of the new committee. The following officers were elected: chairman, Mr I. G. Clark; deputychairman. Mr W. L. Cox; acting-secre-tary, Miss A. Hughes.