BACKWARD CHILDREN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 299, 22 January 1915, Page 9

BACKWARD CHILDREN.

SPECIAL ATTENTION.

FORWARD MOVE AT AUCKLAND

Prfft.t Association

AUCKLAND, January 21

A new departure is about to be. made by the Auckland Education Board- in the direction of giving special attention to backward children. The matter was brought, before the board by the chief inspector, Mr E. K. Mulgan, who drew attention to various matters in connection with the training college regulations recently issued. Mr Mulgan stated that the regulations provided for a model school, consisting of a class of backward children of school age, with not more than 40 children on the roll. This he regarded as a very essential addition to permanent types of model schools, as in many schools there were backward children who required special attention. He referred not so much to pupils who owed their want of progress to faulty teaching or lack of opportunity, but rather to those whose general intelligence and aptitude for acquiring knowledge, though not sufficiently defective to warrant their enrolment in special schools already 2> rovided, was distinctly below those of the normal child. Such children were a source of much anxiety to teachers and a fruitful cause of weakness in school progress. To treat them as normal children was fair neither to themselves nor to the school community, and yet in most eases they were so treated, for teachers had heretofore received little or no special training in dealing with this type of child. The presence in the normal school of such a class would be a valuable addition to the machinery already in operation, and lie recommended its inclusion amongst the types of model school required by the regida.ti.on, Mr Mulgan recommeuded that details of the matter be gradually completed, so that everything may be in readiness to begin work early next year. To this end it should lie possible to procure a suitable room in Ihe vicinity of the Normal School and arrange lor its proper equipment. The salary offered for the work began at £2:io per annum and rose by annual increments of £lO to £250. If the board viewed the suggestion favourably, lie won I* I endeavour whilst in England to secure the services of someone suitable and adequately trained for the position. In the Old Country the salary named should attract a desirable teacher.

Mr Mulgan was authorised to appoint a suitable teacher. The report was then adopted.