SPECIAL CLASS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 23 April 1936, Page 12

SPECIAL CLASS.

AT- COLLEGE STREET SCHOOL,

“Many people do not realise lioav fortunate Palmerston North is in having a special class such as that at College Street School,” said Miss H. H. Avapp, Avho is in charge of the class, to a “Standard” reporter avlio made inquiries to-day regarding the progress of this educational feature. “They think it is of no use and too much expense, and that is where they are wrong. The class is doing a Avonderful work and is fitting its pupils to take their proper place in life, and guiding them eventually along the path of good citizenhip.” Aliss Wapp’s Avords were no idle boast, and, to those who have the privilege or gaining an insight into the Avork it is nothing short of a revelation.

Aliss AVapp explained that the class had been opened in 1930 by the Education Department, and Avas the only one of its kind in the AVanganui Education Board’s district for a considerable time. She mentioned, incidentally, that her sister, Aliss It. E. AVapp, had begun a similar class in AVanganui at the beginning of this year. The teacher ot the special class said she had been specially trained for the work in Wellington, and the intcrvieiver avu s impressed by her whole-hearted sympathy and thorough interest in her work.

The object of the class is to develop to tho fullest capacity. by special methods, children avlio otherwise. might not reach a high standard of literary proficiency. The curriculum is adapted to the needs of the pupils, and more individual attention is given. Three lines of development are recognised—academic, manual, and physical, Avitli a tendency to place emphasis on the manual and physical aspects, rather than on the intellectual. Oiic-third of the time is devoted to each line of deA'elopment. Some of tho isibjects of instruction for primary schools have no place in the syllabus of the special class.

Aliss AYnpp said she wished to remove the impression that the class avus for defectives, as this Avas not so. Defectives Avere not accepted. Another object of the class Avas to teach the children to lie self-reliant: that Avas, to work for themselves and by themsoh’es, and also to inspire them Avitli confidence. Self-conscious-ness and nervousness, the teacher said, she endeavoured to eradicate. The methods of training were proved to Avork out correctly, aalicii it Avas pointed out that of the number of children avlio had passed through the class, and who AA-ere now young men anil Avomen, not one was out of employment at the present time, or had been unemployed for any length of time. That proved that they had been fitted to take their place in life. Tn reference to the manual side, Aliss AA’app said that only useful hanihvork was taught. Basket-making, all phases of cane work, Aveaving in various forms, woodAvorlt, map-making. and rug-making wore included. Samples of the Avork Avere shoAvn, and they were excellent. The class is making, baskets for the Avhole school. Some of the books for various subjects Avere also seen, and their neatness and the care .displayed Avere a pleasure. “If children learn to do clean Avork their minds Avill be clean as Avell,” said the teacher. A feature of the Avork is the attention given to speech training, and on a number of occasions the class had received special mention in this regard. Several of the pupils, called at random, recited pieces of poetry Avith remarkable expression, and also delighted tlieir hearers with songs. In a number of eases, speech defectives, such as children avlio stuttered, had been completely cured by the help of speech training. The children also did dramatising, and performed little plays. Attention avus also paid to music, games, folk-dancing, arid eurhythmies; As far as environment goes, the classroom, in the AA-est wing of the school, is ideal. WindoAVs let in plenty of light and fresh air. The Avails are bright with pictures children love, and flowers add a breath of fragrance. Room decoration is another useful phase of the work. The reporter took her departure Avith the memory of alert and happy faces, bending busily over their AA-ork, and carrying with her some of the friendly harmony that rests oil the classroom, like the peace of a healing hand.

LIVING FOR HEALTH

LECTURE BY MADAME ALWYN.

Possesing personality and speaking with ease and clarity that made her remarks douoly interesting, Madame Luuri Alwyn, wlio gave tlie first of a series of lectures at the Opera House last evening, kept the rapt attention of a goodly sized audience for an hour and a half. Madame Alwyn, an Auckland-born health educationist who has an international reputation, has travelled extensively and has studied at Vienna and at many famous medical and health centres. She has lectured in all parts of the English-speak-ing world, and her success and the elticieucy of her methods may be judged by the fact that there is now a chain of physical culture clubs in the places where she Inis lectured dedicated to the measures she advocates. Last evening Madame Alwyn emphasised that sue had progressed beyond the stage of “thinking" tliat certain treatments were required or certain diets were necessary; years of experience and of study had enabled her to “know.” It was because of that tested knowledge that she was able tc speak with such assertiveness and was able to say that a certain thing was right or wronj» Those who talked of “my indigestion” and “my constipation” were only looking for sympathy, the lecture! said. The others did not care really, even though they expressed sympathy. If one really felt sympathy it would be a terrible experience, because there were so many ills about us. We diu not go about saying that the diningroom at home was dirty and the kitchen filty, so why should we tell everybody about the uncleanliness bf our bodies? Indigestion could be expressed by the body in many ways. The most prevalent cause of indigestion was postural defection, a loose, sagging stance which did not allow the stomach to function normally. Also, the nervous balance at the. solar plexus was destroyed. Wrong breathing, psychological tenseness, and nagging (by parents) could bring about indigestion. The regulation of the blood supply was governed by flic lower brain at the rear of the head and many who worked in high collars or wore high collars for their best dresses, as in the case of some women, were affected with indigestion been use the neck was not adequately exercised. It seemed strange that neck exercises could cure indigstiun in certain, cases, hut it was true. Food should be masticated properly, and undue thought should not be given to the speed of eating, provided, of course, the food left- the mouth properly saturated with the natural juices there. Hut care should be taken not to saturate the food in the mouth with a drink. Tea was a mild stimulant and was quite permissible, the lecturer said in a brief digression, but it should be had without sugar and either at least ten minutes before or

not within a full hour after, a meal. The speaker then proceeded to deal with the action, of digestion, in the human body taking the system point by point. Proceeding to speak on constipation, the lecturer said that nobody should believe that.it caused cancer or anything like that. But it did cause a lowered resistance which left the body open to many diseases to which it might be prone. Lazy, placid muscles were a cause of the trouble. The large intestine had to be exercised each day. That could be quite easily brought about. One should not be overridden bv a “constipation complex.” Wrong diet was one cause and it had been said that one should eat rough foods, but that was not so. as a. general rule. It was not correct, also, that eating b"own bread would be a cure. A tensed nervous condition could be a cause. B'eep breathing often helped.

Bheuma.tiism was a blood condition, said Madame Lnuri, and it was not due to a cold climate. Too much rood gave one rheumatism. Poisons lodged in the body and caused the rheumatic condition, but the whole maladv could he easily cured if it was attacked at the ,base. Blond pressure was very alarming, said Madame Alwyn. She absolutely forbade, for a. person affected. any salt, anv sugar and nnv condiments. A l'ttle honev and dates were permissible and the extra smrar would be gathered from fruits. Blood pressure was curable and responded to diet'very quickly.

At the close of the lecture Madame Alwyn dealt with a la.rge number of questions and just prior <o leaving the stage was presented with a sheaf of gladioli.

The lecturer will deal with various subjects cacli evening, with the exception of Saturday evening, until next Wednesday.