BACKWARD CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20098, 8 November 1928, Page 12

BACKWARD CHILDREN.

CARE AFTER §CHOOL PERIOD. NECESSITY FOR SUPERVISION. Steps to ensure Ihe supervision in ordinary lite ol children who have attended the special (lasses for backward pupils at the Myers Kindergarten, are to be taken bv the Auckland Education Board. At a meeting of the board yesterday a letter was received from the. Education Department stating Inspector Priestley, in reporting on the classes, had expressed regret that backward children were allowed to drift after attending the classes. Slating i! sympathised with the inspector's remarks the department asked for the co-operation of the board in finding menus to meet the situation.

The letter continued: "Two years ago the department inaugurated a scheme for the employment of voluntary welfare office: sin connection with the classes. Tho scheme, has worked well in Wellington, ('liristclmrch, Duncdin and Napier. Cnfortuuately in Auckland those who took ii(i the work were unable to continue, so tint nothing has been dorio for some time. In Wellington the scheme has been developed to the extent of establishing an 'after-caro committee,' which will shortly announce a definite policy." The department suggested such a course for Auckland, naming Mrs. C.. N. Morris, former voluntary welfare officer at Edendale, and Mrs. Benfell, of Epsom, as suitable members of the committee. The board agreed to act accordingly, and Mrs. X. E. Ferner was requested to recommend the personnel of the committee. Replying to the board's inquiry as to the number of children it was advisable to admit to special classes the department notified that as a general rule it was inadvisable to admit more than 16 pupils.