Report of Backward Child Sub-Committee
National Union of Teachers, Walsall and District Association.
In addition to scientific works and textbooks, recent literature on the Backward Child and his Education, includes several reports on the problem as found in particular local areas. The authorship of such reports varies?a panel of Inspectors in one area, individual investigators in others?but from Walsall comes the first pamphlet prepared by a sub-committee of teachers. This committee was set up by the Walsall and District Association of the N.U.T., three years ago and it has fulfilled a very comprehensive programme.
A questionnaire to Head Teachers and the testing of two age groups of children by means of a group intelligence test, were intended to yield data on which conclusions and recommendations might be based. The findings were supplemented by direct questioning of a large number of children regarding number of schools attended and size of family. This shows the thoroughness with which the task was undertaken, and perhaps the most disappointing part of a useful document is the unrelatedness of the conclusions to the information which the data might be expected to yield?though admittedly this is difficult to avoid unless ample time is available for detailed analysis of the material.
The authors themselves note that their findings correspond with those of other investigators, and devote what is the best section of their report to a suggested scheme for backward children supplemented by an individual record card and schemes of work which cover the essential minima of attainments in the more fundamental subjects. There is no mention of the precise purpose of the investigation but presumably the report will be presented at the local Education Office as an expression of teachers’ opinion. May I express the hope that it will, in addition, be freely circulated among teaching staffs who are bound to appreciate the practical suggestions it contains. G. R.
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