EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINIC

Press, Volume C, Issue 29468, 21 March 1961, Page 9

EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINIC

‘Sine* the inception of the psychological service of the Department of Education in 1943 in Christchurch, the service has been available, free, to members of the public,” said the District Senior Inspector of Schools 'Mr L. J. Broomfield). "No prior screening by any public or private school or child welfare officer has ever been required as suggested in an interview this week with Mr George Shouksmith. of the Canterbury University applied psychological services division. "The only proviso before a child is examined is that parental consent has been obtained in those cases where reference has been through the schools, doctors, or social workers,” said Mr Broomfield. “Of the almost 1000 cases examined in Christchurch during 1960, fully 25 per eent. were referred direct by members of the public, other than headmasters. It is true that headmasters and teachers very frequently inform parents that this service is available for the asking, but to say that the Education Department 'requires reference by a school or child welfare officer’ is certainly misleading.” Mr Broomfield said. "The Christchurch psychological service is part of a New Zealand-wide network of Education Department psychological clinics. Branches are established in Auckland. Hamilton, Palmerston North, Lower Hutt, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill and in these clinics some 10.000 children have been examined last year. "Cases seen are mainly of school age, but a small number of young adults—particularly those with severe educational difficulties—are

seen. All Education Department psychologists are used

as consultant* by officers of th* child welfare division.

8 and this work is an importb ant but minor aspect of the J total service,” said Mr B Broomfield. i, “In it* work the Psychob logical service i* closely t associated with the special ■ education services of the j Department of education r and include* work with r children at occupation r centres. Cerebral Palsy 4 school*. partially-sighted t classes, reading clinics, i. special classes for backward - children and so on.” 1 Mr Sheukxmith Replies "In the limited field in “ which it is qualified to oper- ‘ ate, the Education Depart--3 ment’s special services clinic 5 provides a very necessary 3 service—one which is clearly *• appreciated if one can go by r the length of the waiting list,” said Mr Shouksmith s when this statement was re--3 ferred to him. r "There are, however, many f psychological problems which r do not come within the pur- ® view of an educational ser--3 vice and which require for f their treatment persons of s rather different and speciale ised training,” Mr Shouke smith said. • “There can be no doubt a that in a city the size of e Christchurch there is plenty •of room for a specialised service of this nature, quite • apart from the educational J Service which the Education s Department must, of course, t provide for the schools.” s- Mr Shouksmith said he acn cep ted Mr Broomfield’s state- '■ ment on the direct availabil- » rty of the Education DepartL ment psychological services u to the public and expressed • regret that he had shared a 9 conarflon misunderstanding that cites must be formally f referred to that clinic.