RETARDATE BOYS’ TRAINING

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27726, 2 August 1955, Page 2

RETARDATE BOYS’ TRAINING

Work Of Brothers Of St. John Of God PROVINCIAL’S ADDRESS The large schoolroom at the Christchurch Occupational Centre was crowded last evening when,, at the usual monthly meeting of the Intellectually Handicapped Children’s Mother’s Club, an address was given by the Rev. Brother Killian, Provincial for Australia and New Zealand of the Brothers of St. John of God. Included in the large gathering were individuals and representatives of organisations interested in child welfare and societies for the welfare of intellectually handicapped children and those suffering from cerebral palsy. The president of the Mothers’ Club (Mrs L. Armstrong), in welcoming Brother Killian and another Brothel - , said that the arrival of the order in Christchurch had aroused great interest. She felt that the founding of their home at Middleton was the beginning of much progress and that parents who were always searching for knowledge about intellectually handicapped children would gain much from their wide knowledge and experience.

Brother Killian explained that his Order—a nursing order—had been founded in Spain nearly 500 years ago by St. John of God, who decided that members of the Order should devote their lives to the sick, nursing every known type of affliction without distinction of race or creed. That rule still held good, said Brother Killian. When St. John of God died, the Order numbered between 23 and 30 members, with two hospitals. But its work expanded rapidly, although it suffered some vicissitudes from wars and revolutions. At present, he said, the Order had 13 houses in the United Kingdom for the care of many different kinds of illnesses and afflictions, four in the United States, 13 in Canada, 27 in South America, 202 in Europe, two each in Italian Somaliland and Indo-China, one each in Malay and Japan, and four in Australia. Within the Order were doctors, dentists, chemists, general and mental nurses, and those trained specially for the care of retardate children. After tracing the growth of research into methods of testing intelligence in recent years. Brother Killian said that intellectually handicapped persons were those who could not profit by ordinary instruction in ordinary schools. About 20 children in 1000 belonged to this class. Of these 20, 12 could be eligible for training in special schools, six were not educable, but with training from an early age could become well behaved and useful, and under supervision could do domestic duties, farm work, gardening, or craft worfl. A very small group of about two iji 1000 needed complete nursing care; the largest group, 12 in 1000. would probably struggle unprofitably in school up to the third standard but required a helping hand when things got tough. Reverses showed their social failure. If they remained in elementary classes, they became discouraged? lethargic and rebellious; they might fall foul of the law. and then present another problem. They required training and stabilising in a residential centre under a nurse tutor or nurse teacher.

Brother Killian said he did not know conditions in New Zealand, but in Australia 3000 retardate pupils left schools each year and entered adult life with little training and small prospects of finding work. Admitted at Age of Seven Describing the work carried out in the centres conducted by Jiis order. Brother Killian said in the United Kingdom they cared for 2300 retardates and 230 epileptics and conducted a child guidance clinic, and in Australia they have 230 boys under their care in three residential centres. The boys were admitted at the age of seven years. They were graded according to their intelligence quotient, their health was carefully graded, and they were set a simplified aed concrete programme in keeping with their powers. They worked under supervision. In Australia, they presented concerts, operettas and plays, they had their scout groups and had Avon two marching and camping- competitions, they had a band of wind instruments and percussion band. They grew vegetables, made rugs, scarves and socks, managed a prize dairy herd, reared poultry and sold the eggs and conducted their own tuck shop. In answer to questions, Brother Killian said that in the United Kingdom and Australia children were admitted through the Public Health and Child Welfare departments, that the average intelligence quotient of those in their care was 50, that as they grew older they went to a different centre and that in Australia about 12 every year got employment. The Brothers kept in touch with these boys when they went to work and accommodated them m a hostel or in cottages in th? grounds of the centre. Asked if there were any centres similar to those of his order that catered for girls. Brother Killian S9id that in the British a P d Australia the Daughters of Charity, an order founded in France by St. Vincent de Paul, did work for girls similar to that which his order did for boys. The two orders worked side by side, he said. Replying to a questioner about the religious training of the boys, Brother Killian said that the religion of applicants was never mentioned before admittance, but afterwards their religion was noted and could be used in cases of illness. Parents were asked if they wished their children to go to church. ‘‘lt means nothing to them.” said Brother Killian, ‘‘but they like the singing and the music.” If parents were agreeable the boys attended services and if they preferred they should not, then they, did not. They had under their care boys of all religions, he said, and received valuable help from adults of all religions. s P ecial ised diploma of the Royal Medical Psychological Association, tendon, that the Brothers of the Order hold Brother Killian explained, was gained after three years’ study in England, but only those who were already qualified in mental and general nursing were eligible to study for the diploma. The work carried out by his order did cost a great deal. Brother Killian said, in reply to a question. In all the countries where they operated they received State aid. The parents paid what they could afford and a subsidy was granted by the government. He did not know yet if similar aid would be granted in New Zealand. The Brothers give their services free, said Brother Killian. “It is their vocation, their calling, and it pays good dividends by training retardate boys to be good, useful citizens, and in this way they lessen crime and solve a very real problem.”