The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-29

World we find short editorial which we copy entire:
 The movement for the special education of backward children. which has now ob- tained a practical start in the schools Of this city, has been under way in the edu- cational world for several years. It Is one of the most important modern features of school work.
 Everybody who has been in school knows the boy or girl who doesn't get along''-who just misses promotion from grade to grade. In Philadelphia. where the special-class idea took hold three years ago. one pupil In 8 thousand was of the slow order. according to the esti- mate. There were found 1.ss children falling behind because they were not bright enough to keep up with only one- sixtieth of teacher each. In an experi- mental. school eighteen dull pupils were put. under two teachers. gtvins them one-' was remarkable.
 London had special classes in 1900 for 1S26 slow scholars. Eleven other British vision. In America Providence and Bos- ton have special elementary classes.
 New York has. according to investiga- tions made last December, more than $500 little pupils of subnormal capacity. None of them is imbecile or hopelessIy dull. It is only that they cannot keep step with large classes in the rush for learning. The effort to give them special
  attention is just, humane and hopeful
 Yes. all of us who have either taught or studied know the child who "doesn't get along" Few things are more pa- thetic than to see little ones struggling under an impossible load in their effort to keep pace with the more fortunate ones to whom learning is g pastime, and few things are more cruelty unjust than the Procrustean bed upon which some teach CTS stretch all pupils without regard to capcity or powers of absorption.
 To all who have any knowledge of child humanity, it is well known that children differ almost as much in their power to learn and master their tasks as they do In their physical appearance. To some the simple study of orthography is almost an impossible wall. There are others who can never learn to read properly, others who cannot write, and to others mathematics is almost as impossi- ble as Sanskrit. Almost every pupil can easily learn some branch or branches of education, but will balk and fall behind in the effort to master other branches. The result is that pupil who can readily ab- sorb and retain anything taught in the schools goes ahead of the others, while they are under a continual strain in their efforts to keep up.
 Is it altogether fair or just to children to expect or require all of them to Keep abreast of each other in all their studies? Is it not both cruel and unjust to punish the slow ones because they cannot accom- plish the impossible and learn as fast as the bright ones do? Perhaps the teachers are not to blame, for they have system given them and must carry it out. and it is doubtless true that 1t Is impossible for them to consult and humor the capcity of each child, but something should be done for the relief of the child who doesn't get along" and 1t may be that the plan spoken of in The World editorial is the best solution possible If it is possible for separate classes to be formed of what The World calls slow scholars 1t would relieve child education of one of its most pathetic cruelties.
 No parent or guardian should object to this, and no child should feel humiliated at being considered slow at school. His tory tells US that some of the most fa- nous men who have lived were so dull at school that they were considered stupid. It was a mental and physical impossibil- ity for them to learn rapidly or readily. and in some cases they were the butt of their comrades and the despair of their teachers. Yet these same dull boys per- severed with unfiagging and dogged per- sistency, retaining what they acquired, and became great scientists or statesmen in their latter years. The mere fact that one child cannot keep up with all others is not an evidence of a weak intellect or a stupid mind, but is as natural as 1t Is for one horse to run with greater speed than another does. And as a matter of fact the :slow pupils are entitled to much more care and consideration than the bright ones are, just as considerate pa- rent is more careful and kindly with physically weak child than with a strong one. Most assuredly there should be some way to help the backward pupils.
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