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anaemic, 2 had defective vision; 1 had both defective vision and defective hearing.
Five in this category had been absent from school for long periods ; two were of the
neurotic type, one was a spoilt child at home, frequently absent without adequate
reason, two had ear trouble and hardness of hearing.
There remain four children with an intelligence quotient below 70. Two of
these have always attended regularly, but one of them suffers from chronic otorrhœa
and defective hearing. The other two have frequently been absent from school
for long periods, one for scabies, the other for jaundice.
B. Class II. 33 girls were investigated in this class, whose ages ranged
from 9 to 13. Their intelligence quotients varied from 72 to 105 ; average being 88.
No less than 11 girls had intelligence quotients of 90 and upwards. The salient
features and the history of these children were as follows:—
(1) J.D., age 129/12 I.Q. 105. Average attendance over 3 years 76.—This
girl is a sad case, thin, probably underfed, was absent for four months with scarlet
fever in 1923, and for three months with diphtheria in 1924. A drudge at home,
missing attendances for one or two half days every week. Here is a bright intelligent
girl, who is backward merely through neglect and hard circumstances at home,
combined with very irregular school attendance.
(2) A.B., age 8.11/12 I.Q. 100. Average attendance 95 over 3 years.—The child
is of the neurotic t11ype, suffers from night terrors, was considered in the infants'
department to be bright; attends very regularly. Is backward especially in arithmetic.
This is a well known type of child with good general intelligence, but is
weak in one or other faculty.
(3) G.D., age 96/12 I.Q. 97. Average attendance over 3 years 90.—Suffers
from enlarged glands and chest trouble. Under treatment at Chest Hospital off
and on for five years. Was regarded in infants' department as very bright (top
girl in St. I.). Backwardness clearly due to illness.
(4) I.P., age 94/12 I.Q. 95. Average attendance 91 over 3 years. Was
regarded as bright in infants' department. Has had an operation for tonsils and
adenoids. Was absent for some months with infectious disease. Hearing normal.
Backwardness due to illness.
(5) L.P., age 1011/12. I.Q. 95. Average attendance over 3 years 92. No serious
illness. No physical defect. Is kept at home for a few days occasionally to mind
younger children. No obvious reason for backwardness.
(6) E.X., age 107/12 I.Q. 93. Average attendance 91 over 2 years. History
of abdominal trouble ; attendance irregular last year owing to illness.
(7) A.I., age lO6/12 I.Q. 91. Average attendance over 2 years 92. Often
late for school, lacks supervision at home ; child is "lazy" and miserable when made
to work.
(8) D.I., age 9 6/12 I.Q. 90. Average attendance over 2 years 96. Suffered
from bronchial catarrh in 1923. No serious illness. Child is in backward class
because of poor arithmetic. (See case 2.)
(9) N.N., age 9 7/12 I.Q. 90. Average attendance over 3 years, 89. Bronchitis
in 1920. Frequent headaches and sickness. Uncontrolled at home.
(10) M.Q., age 12. I.Q. 90. Average attendance over 3 years 99. Defective
vision, wears glasses irregularly. Now improving.
(11) I.T., age 10 1/12 I.Q. 90. Average attendance over 3 years, 64. Pneumonia
in 1919, followed by fibrosis of lung. Anaemic, vision defective. Backwardness due
to illness and consequent loss of attendance.
Of these eleven children, who may be regarded as falling within the normal
limits of intelligence, four appear to be backward, not through illness or defect, but
chiefly owing to adverse home conditions, two are backward in special subjects,
owing to weakness of a particular faculty, though of normal general intelligence;
five are backward owing to illness or defective vision.
13651 L 2