The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-22
EXPERT TENDERS HELP,
TO BACKWARD CHILDREN
Professor R. H. Sylvester, at
University, Volunteers
Services.
TALKS TO TEACHERS
TALKS TO TEACHERS
In Morning Lecture at Con-
vocation Iowa Man Dis
cusses Problem.

Scientific help for backward chill
dren from any Montana community
will be given at the State University
during the summer session.
Professor r. II. Sylvester of the
department OF psychology Of the Uni
versity of Iowa and an instructor here
during the summer term offered yes
terday, during lecture. to receive
and consider any backward children
sent to him by the school teachers
who form large part of the extra
session attendance. One public school
pupil in 80 Is backward, the lecturer
said.
Talks Of Backward Child.
Professor Sylvester leetured in the
university assembly hall on The
Backward Child" in place of the
broader topic. Mental Health Of the
Child" previously announced.
Professor sylvester spoke of the
several groups into which the back
ward children fall; the feeble minded,
who, though they can not be cured.
can be benefited and whose ratio is
only about one out of 800; the dull
children who can not master book
ton of their cases. can be guided into
certain channels for which they are
fitted; those with physical defects
such as adenoids and who after an
operation can be broken of their faulty
habits by the teacher. Other groups
consist of children who are normal
except for conditions brought about
by environment, pedagogical handling,
nervous and mental diseases.
Ono in 30 Backward.
According to Professor Sylvester,
about one child out of every 80 in the
public schools is backward. He ex-
planned that the various psychological
tests are the mental tools used in at
tempting to measure the child's intel
ligence though it is necessary to take
into consideration environment, in
heritance and other factors in judging
the child, A child coming mentally
within three years of its chronological
age is considered normal. whereas one
which shows no PROMISE of developing
beyond the age of Il is considered
feeble minded. However, these land
marks are arbitrary and there are
exceptions.
Tests Not Always Sure.
Il am not tied hand and foot to
tests said Professor Sylvester
much depends upon a child's history
inheritance, environment"
The speaker said that while in many
cases the teacher can do much for a
backward child, in other cases she is
wasting energy and taking time from
.l..f.
not be benefited in school. In such
an instance there is need of more
careful diagnosis and perhaps the
placing a child in an institution where
it can be properly cared for.
Will Aid Children Now.
In conclusion Professor Sylvester
told the teachers present that he
would be glad if they would send cases
to him from their communities for
the summer session at the university.
He mentioned speech cases" partlcu-
larry, which. he said, could get the
beginning Of a complete cure during
summer school. though suffering was
an exception to this.
Columbia Man Next Week.
Professor G. l.. Strayer of the de-
partment Of education at Columbia
university. is scheduled to lecture
Wednesday and Thursday of next
week at ] / O'Clock in the forenoon and
4 in the afternoon and Friday after
noon at o'clock.
Under the direction of Professor
Dykema the audience spends 10 or Il
minutes of the convoCation hour in
choral singing.