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of genetic factors, suffer from juvenile psychosis. This is a comparatively
small group into which only 10 of this year's cases fall.
A second much larger group consists of children whose disturbance
proceeds primarily from the circumstances to which they
are exposed in early childhood. In this group some constitutional
predisposition may also exist, i.e., its members succumb to misfortunes
which a more robust child would withstand, but the fact
remains that, with different treatment they would not have
succumbed, and the ill effects can often be undone. This group is
the one most likely to yield to child guidance treatment and the
majority of our cases fall within it.
A further group, however, can be distinguished where circumstances
are so adverse that no child could be expected to escape
unscathed. 57 of the cases this year fall within this group—a
higher proportion than is usually found in child guidance work.
This group of cases present home difficulties of so serious a
character that a disproportionate amount of time and effort has
to be spent on them in order to effect any improvement or alteration.
The adverse factors present in this group of cases are tabulated
in Table III, but it will be seen that in most cases there is more
than one such factor present. If is important to emphasise that,
in every one of these cases, however the child may be described
in the outside world—delinquent, naughty, refractory, etc., the
child is, in fact, a sick child. While the treatment needed is very
different from the treatment required for disease of the body,
nevertheless, whatever is prescribed has the end in view of restoring
mental health if possible, or, at least minimising mental ill-health.
Altogether of these 57 cases, only 16 were actually recommended
for removal from home, and 9 further children were removed
through the work of other agencies (e.g., juvenile court, or by
private arrangement). In 3 cases the parents were un-cooperative
and nothing further could therefore be done, and in 13 cases
removal from home is still under consideration, and we are temporising
in the hope that some change in the conditions will occur
in the near future. In 7 cases treatment rendered the situation
more tolerable, and in 8 cases nothing further could be done.
Of these 8 cases the conditions of 5 children were felt to be tolerable,
although very unfortunate.
Table IV. Intelligence Levels.
The average I.Q. this year is significantly above the average
for the school population. This is accounted for, partly by the
increase in the number of referrals from grammar schools, and
partly by the fact already referred to. that the spade work done
by the educational psychologist in ascertaining backwardness, and