Backwardness in the basic subjects / by Fred. J. Schonell.

  • Schonell, F. J. (Fred Joyce)
Date:
[1942]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Backwardness in the basic subjects / by Fred. J. Schonell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/592 (page 8)
    reactions. Indeed, scholastic disability in too many cases can be ascribed to the failure to grasp the far-reaching importance of the interaction of physical conditions, intellectual abilities, emotional attitudes and: environmental influences. I make no apology, therefore, for the long introduction with which I have prefaced the actual study of backwardness, but rather urge all who are not con- versant with a modern interpretation of the psychology of individual differences to devote some care to this part of the book. . I have thought it proper to give throughout the book extensive evidence of the intimate connection between emotional attitudes and scholastic disabilities. Continuous reference is made also to the deterioration of personality adjustment in backward children and conversely to the rapid development of personality as progress is made in school subjects. This was particularly noticeable in regard to disability in reading, which in time might produce loss of confidence, apathy, a sense of frustration and an anxiety so intense as to colour the whole of a child’s attitude towards school and school work in general. ‘The close connection between progress in school subjects and the mental health of children is apparent. Adequate treatment of backwardness particularly amongst pupils of normal intelligence would do much to eradicate the minor neuroses and unhappiness such backward children commonly exhibit. : Of equal social significance is the relationship between backwardness and undesirable behaviour. The backward children investigated yielded more than their share of cases of disorderly conduct, lying, cheating, truancy and exaggerated forms of self-display. While average figures from other areas reveal that over 60 per cent. of young delinquents are backward, many of them to the point of complete illiteracy, yet only 30 to 40 per cent. of them are below average intelligence. The fact that almost 6 out of every 10 delinquents are so backward in reading as to be deprived both of the means of making progress in school ©