BACKWARD CHILDREN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29910, 25 August 1962, Page 15

BACKWARD CHILDREN

Increased Demands Of Modern Life

Backward children were the products of a civilisation with an increased stress on intelligence and efficiency. Dr. Maria Gias told a meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Intellectually Handicapped Children's Society. "Our civilisation is, more than it ever was, founded on intelligence. We have become democratic, and the stress is now on cleverness and efficiency. That is valued, and a person has to compete to get on. We have to adjust youngsters to this life cf intelligence and competition,” said Dr. Gias, who is permanent doctor at the Hopeka home-school near Naper. The youngsters who were not as intelligent as others could not compete, and were only able to find employment in sheltered work. The use of intelligence for ordinary life was not so necessary in earlier days, but now. when there was such a need for cleverness it was no wonder there was such an increase in intellectual deficiency. “One of the tasks of an association like this is to wake up the conscience of the community, not a charitable feeling but a realisation that the way we live has something remotely to do with the problem.” said Dr. Gias.

The Hopeka home, established in 1957, looked after 43 children between the ages of six and 20. A home for older boys had been established in 1960 close by. Dr. Gias described the methods of remedial training used in the school and used films to show the children’s activities and handiwork.