SUB-NORMAL CHILDREN

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXVII, Issue 7960, 4 February 1930, Page 3

SUB-NORMAL CHILDREN

INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON THE ” MIND N.Z. SUPERVISOR IN ENGLAND The striking value of music as an aid in giving self-control to sub-nor-mal children was referred to by Mr E. Douglas Tayler, supervisor of music in schools, who has returned to his duties in Wellington after a visit to Britain and the Continent, Mr Tayler said he visited one of the largest schools for mental defectives in London, where the children were only a grade above mental hospital level. The results had been very much above the average compared with schools where music was less used.

Among these children were those without full control of their limbs. First they were trained to respond to the beating of a drum, and later on to rhythmic piano music. The c»U-t trol of music achieved by themselves gave results which allowed the teacher to gradually introduce control of mind. This combination of music and eurhythmies had resulted in 87 per cent, of the children being made employable and 25 per cent, were enabled to continue their education at normal schools.