BACKWARD CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1934, Page 4

BACKWARD CHILDREN

REGULAR PROMOTION POLICY. EXPERIENCE OF HEADMASTER. The problem of backward children was the subject of some interesting observations by Mr. G. A. Lyall, an experienced headmaster, to a News reporter yesterday, when he gave some examples that had come into his own experience. . ' “Each year there are certain pupils who have to be promoted,” he said; “not because they have passed the necessaryexamination test but on account of their age. No child can be kept back in a class where he will be three or perhaps four years older than the rest and retain his self-respect. It has always been my policy to promote these children.’ M r . Lyall proceeded to relate how this policy had produced mans’- happy results. There were children whose intelligence developed slowly; they were triers but in the early stages of their school life they did not appear to be able to assimilate knowledge. He instanced the case of one boy who commenced school somewhat later than usual. He was always regarded as particularly “dense.” He never passed the test in any of the lower classes but was nevertheless regularly promoted. He did pass Standard V., and in Standard VI. he did really well, gaining his proficiency in easy fashion. “That _ boy, said Mr. Lyall, “is now a most intelligent and successful farmer, but I am sure he would never have developed had he been kept too long in the lower classes; he would have lost his selfrespect. “It was not so much a case of teacning the particular subjects as developing general intelligence, and once this came the other followed. This is often the with children who for sore reason or other commence their school life late. Of course we have many cases of youngsters making marvellous progress early and then failing to fulfil their promise, but it takes all sorts to make up a school.” . j