View report page

138
in one year. In considering this rate of progress, the Head
Teacher points out that it must not be forgotten that many of the
children when admitted had, through various causes, a low mental
age, and therefore the result is the more noticeable when it is
remembered that in many cases the previous rate of progress must
have been very slow.
The Head Teacher mentions that the subjects the children were
tested in were arithmetic, English, history and geography, general
intelligence, and reading, and points out it is interesting to note
that the rate of progress is more rapid in general intelligence than
in other subjects. To quote from the Head Teacher's report: "this
is what one would expect, I think, from personal observation. The
children quickly give evidence of increased mental vigour, and
this factor, plus the more stimulating course of instruction necessarily
provided for children working temporarily under conditions
such as exist at an Open-Air School, seem to give an immediate
return in this direction."
The following is a Copy of the Report presented to the School
Management Sub-Committee on the 9th December by the Director
of Education: —
REPORT ON THE BENTON SCHOOL
For the Period 29th January, 1929, to 31st October, 1929.
Opening.—The Benton School was formally opened on 29th
January, 1929, with an initial roll of eighty-eight children (boys
and girls). The School has subsequently been recognised by the
Board of Education as providing accommodation for an average
of ninety pupils, and the roll on 31st October had increased to
ninety-eight.
Selection of Pupils.—The School has as one of its aims the
improvement of the health of those children whose physical
condition, through one cause or another, has been impaired;
a natural corollary is that reinforced physical energy tends to
produce a similarly healthy mental capacity. Suitable cases are
referred from time to time by the School Medical Officer for
admission when vacancies occur. During the period under review,
one hundred and ninety-two cases were so referred, of which
number one hundred and fifty-three have been invited to attend the
School with the following results, namely:—
Number of admissions 115
Number of non-acceptances 38