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179
Perhaps for the parents of this group of children, the most
difficult problems are those of toilet training and feeding. However,
contrary to the stress and anxiety so often encountered in
these cases, in the pleasant environment of this well designed
unit these difficulties are handled with the minimum of fuss by
an efficient staff.
(2) Education and Training Centre
Catering for a total of 80 children between the ages of 5 and
16 years, the centre is organised into four classes each of 20
children including a transition class for boys and girls aged 14
to 16 years.
Ideally, classes should be limited to 10 children but the
teaching staff have coped admirably with the difficulties arising
from classes of 20. This has been achieved largely by subdividing
the classes into several small groups and introducing
children into a group most suitable to their aptitude and ability.
The scheme has been made possible by utilizing the wide corridors
which make excellent additional areas for project teaching.
Each child is regarded as an individual and considerable
thought is given not only to the development of his/her full
potential within a group situation but also to the means whereby
a child can be assisted to overcome, as far as possible, its lack
of ability.
Activity Methods, which are applied throughout the centre,
enable each child to learn and progress at its own level of ability
and the problems of the brighter child being held back by the
less able or the slower child, through constant failure, being
frustrated and intractable, are therefore eliminated.
Instruction is designed to enable a child to take its place in
the community and, to this end, lessons are planned dealing with
'real life situations'. In addition to the basic skills necessary for
employment in senior or industrial centres, the elements of personal
h> iene and the simple social graces are also inculcated. Simple
reading, writing and arithmetic are taught with special reference
to word and number recognition so necessary to 'safe-living'.
Di cipline is maintained throughout the centre at such a level as
wil promote obedience and enable the child to exercise a measure
of elf-control and become more emotionally stable.
It is the intention of centre training to have regard to the
whole personality of a child and not only to prepare him/her
eve Uually for undertaking employment but also to encourage the
use of leisure hours to advantage.