Needs first, Speld told

Press, 14 May 1981, Page 4

Needs first, Speld told

Worrying about definitions could run counter to the real concern of helping the children with difficulties, the annual conference of the Specific Learning Difficulties Association was told last evening.

Opening the conference of Speld in Christchurch, the Assistant Director-General of Education, Mr J. A. Ross, said he had no quarrel with the concept of specific learning disabilities, but his department took the view that the definitions put forward could cause confusion.

"I think it is more productive if we put that behind us and start looking at the treatment, care, and education due to all people who, for some reason or other, are under-achievers in our schools,” he said. "It may be impossible to explain what reasons are.” Mr Ross said he was concerned that to a teacher or a parent, the difficulties

... aifficulties as described by Speld in terms of ‘'psychological processes" could be interpreted as medical problems, not educational. The definitions could be counter-productive by lowering educational expectations unnecessarily, he said.

He agreed with Speld. however, that there should be an emphasis on reaching the child experiencing difficulties as early as possible, involving the parents as much as possible, and helping people to learn most effectively "whatever the reason for their difficulties might be.”