HOME FOR DEFECTIVE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 14

HOME FOR DEFECTIVE BOYS.

THE OTEKAIKE HOMESTEAD. ; (Fbom Our Own Correspondxht.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 3. In conversation with a Lyttelton Times representative, Mr R. H. Pope, assistant inspector of Industrial Schools, referred to the new State institution to be established on the Otekaike Estate, near Oamaru. The homestead of the estate has been set aside in order to provide a place of training for children who, while not actually defective mentally, are unable to take full advantage of the instruction given in the ordinary State schools. It has long been recognised that a special school is required for backward children, and it is hoped that the Otekaike institution will meet the need. The homestead is one of the finest country - houses in New Zealand, and was built in the early seventies by the Hon. Robert Campbell. Boys only will be accommodated at Otekaike, and their training will include a good deal of healthy, open air occupation. Some amount of ordinary instruction will be imparted, and an effort will be made to secure efficiency in manual occupation, the methods of English Jnst:tutions of similar character being followed. Without training such as will be given at Otekaike, the backward and deficient children in the community would never cease to be a burden to their relatives or the State, but it is hoped that most of the Otekaike pupils will acquire sufficient aptitude and skill in some branch of labour to keep themselves by their own efforts. Already the Education Department has a number of children awaiting admission, and it is anticipated that when parents of backward children realise what an improved chance in life can be given to their offspring by taking advantage of the Otekaike institution, it will be taxed to its full capacity. __^___^ — _ _