View report page

93
carry out, or by testing his power of giving the change in an imaginary transaction,
using real coins for small amounts.
Of recent years, certain simple tests have been arranged in graduated series.
Of these the Binet-Simon tests and their modifications, the Porteous Tests and the
Healy tests are in fairly general use.
By the use of such series, it is possible to say that the intelligence of a given
child, as far as it is measured by such tests, is roughly equivalent to that of a child of a
specified age. It is not infrequently held that a child whose "mental age" is distinctly
less than half the actual age may, on these grounds alone, be deemed to be
imbecile; but such numerical standards and generalisations, though having their
value as indices, have not been found by certifying medical officers to afford an
adequate basis for the certification of individuals. The bare fact of pass or failure
with tests, apart from observation of the methods employed, does not give a true
idea of mentality. A child would not be called mentally defective merely because
his so called intelligence quotient (mental age divided by his chronological age)
was below .75, or excluded from a special school because this I.Q. was below .50,
although these figures have been suggested as forming the boundaries of feeblemindedness
and imbecility respectively. Emotional and temperamental characteristics,
of which shyness, obstinacy, irritability, etc., are familiar examples, give rise to
difficulty, but when it is necessary, such cases are specially re-examined that the
certifying officer may be the more certain of obtaining the best possible responses
of the child. Emotional disturbances often have a physical basis and are much
affected by individual states of health. No child is even considered for exclusion
unless his behaviour is quite uncontrolled or his attainments in the practical as well as
literary aspects of education show no appreciable degree of improvement. Further,
the necessary certificate is not given unless, when all physical conditions and temperamental
factors have been considered, there is such evidence of lack of continuity
of attention, or of powers of planning, willing or self-correction, or such lack
of emotional balance as renders it clear to the certifying officer that the child cannot
be taught to manage himself or his affairs—in other words, that he is an imbecile,
but the presence or absence of physical stigmata will often enable the diagnosis to be
made at an earlier stage than would otherwise be the case.
Should occupation centres be generally established, they would make suitable
provision for certain of the children unfitted for special schools. Almost all imbeciles
and some idiots may be improved in habits of cleanliness and order, though
incapable of acquiring formal instruction or of developing manual capacities to an
extent that would offer any hope of their becoming employable in the world. The
methods adopted in occupation centres aim at the inculcation of habits rather than
the training of ability. They provide simple and pleasant activities and companionship
under controlled conditions for those who are unfitted for the more
collective routine of a special school, and assist the children attending to conform to
some of the simpler social conventions and, in some cases, in time enable them to carry
out some of the very simplest household duties under constant supervision. This is
of the greatest advantage to the children, as it widens their interests in daily life and
affords a measure of relief to the families by relieving them of the duty of supervision
for a certain number of hours per week.
After-careers of children formerly attending special mentally defective schools
for the year ended December 31st, 1922. (Data furnished by the London Association
for the Care of the Mentally Defective.)
Male. Female. Total.
1. Number of children born in or subsequent to 1904, who have left
special (mentally defective) schools and who have been on the
books of the association 1,312 1,001 2,313*
* Particulars in regard to cases over 18 years of age have not been supplied by the London
Association.